2017 Photo Contest, Nature, 1st prize

Rhino Wars

Photographer

Brent Stirton

Getty Images Reportage for National Geographic

09 April, 2016

A combined force of Sabie Game Park Rangers, Garda Frontier soldiers and Fauna Bravia soldiers detain Moses Chauque, believed to have been arranging weapons and transport for rhino poachers, in Mozambiqe. There were multiple arrest warrants for Chauque, both in Mozambique and South Africa.

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
1/4
Focal length
35.0 mm
F-Stop
1.4
ISO
1600
Camera
Canon EOS-1D X

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