Wildlife photographer of the year 2017
A HEART-warming image of a gentle moment between a gorilla and her rescuer was announced the winner of the prestigious 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.
Canadian photographer Jo-Anne McArthur’s shot, Pikin and Appolinaire, emerged as the favourite after almost 20 000 nature fans voted.
Pikin, the lowland gorilla, had been captured and removed from her habitat to be sold for bush meat, but was rescued by Ape Action Africa.
McArthur took the intimate photograph as Pikin was being moved from one enclosure to another.
The gorilla awoke from sedation during the transfer but remained calm for the bumpy drive, resting drowsily in the arms of her human companion, Appolinaire Ndohoudou.
Like Pikin, Ndohoudou was forced from his home, having fled Chad because of a civil war.
As he rebuilt his life in Cameroon, his work protecting wild animals revived his appreciation for the natural world.
McArthur said: “I’m so thankful that this image resonated with people and I hope it might inspire us all to care a little bit more about animals.
“No act of compassion towards them is ever too small. I regularly document the cruelties animals endure at our hands, but sometimes I bear witness to stories of rescue, hope and redemption. Such is the case with the story of Pikin and Appolinaire, a beautiful moment between friends.”
The Natural History Museum said McArthur’s image was chosen from a shortlist of 24, selected from almost 50 000 entries submitted for the 2017 competition.
Director Michael Dixon said: “Like our blue whale Hope has become, Jo-Anne’s inspirational image is a symbol of humanity’s power to protect the world’s most vulnerable species and shape a more sustainable future for life on our planet.
“Photographs like Jo-Anne’s are a reminder that we can make a difference, and we all have a part to play in addressing our impact on the natural world.”
The picture will be on show in the exhibition at the museum in London until May 28.