2017 Photo Contest, Nature, 1st prize

Rhino Wars

Photographer

Brent Stirton

Getty Images Reportage for National Geographic

02 May, 2016

A groundbreaking procedure using human abdominal surgery technology is employed to close a gaping hole on the nose of a rhino called Hope, made by horn poachers.

Demand in Asia for rhino horn—traditionally valued for its medicinal properties—is rising steeply, as increasing prosperity in the region means more people can afford to pay the extremely high prices involved. This puts growing pressure on a species already threatened with extinction. In 2007, South Africa, home to 70 percent of the world’s rhinos, reported losing just 13 to poachers%3B by 2015 that had risen to 1,175. Unlike elephant tusks, rhino horn grows back when cut properly. Rhino rancher John Hume is among those attempting to end the international ban on trading in rhino horn, and to farm rhinos commercially, a move fiercely opposed by conservationists, who say a legal trade could doom rhinos.

About the photographer

Brent Stirton

Brent Stirton is a special correspondent for Getty Images, and a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine as well as other international titles.  He speci...

Technical information

Shutter Speed
1/200
Focal length
24.0 mm
F-Stop
3.2
ISO
200
Camera
Canon EOS-1D X

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