Environmental report

1st Award  MontPhoto Honor Award

An elderly Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) rests her fragile body against the wall of her enclosure on a tiger farm in northern Thailand. For over 20 years, she was kept inside this cage and used as a breeding machine, producing cubs for industries ranging from tiger tourism to the illegal trade in tiger body parts. She was rescued by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT).

A sad symbol for our climate protection measures? The sheets of geotextiles on the glacier look like they were half-heartedly thrown there. While parts of the ice are covered, large parts are exposed to the sun and are melting away. Parallels could be drawn here with the inadequate climate protection worldwide: A patchwork quilt with large gaps and inadequate measures.

Migratory birds face grave risks en route. In Cyprus, 2 million protected birds are illegally killed each year and sold on the black market. Caught in nets, shot, or trapped on limed twigs, their suffering is immense. While volunteering with CABS (Comitee Against Birds Slaughter), we dismantled traps and caught poachers—yet most walked free. Without global pressure, this tragedy continues. In the picture, you can see a pair of males of Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).

In northern Nigeria, cultural practices that fall on the thin line between tradition and abuse show how human domination over animals can become a form of normalised cruelty. On this occasion a spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and a Central African rock python (Python sebae).

Niete is a recently rescued chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) intended from a poacher that wanted to sell her as a pet, while her family was killed for bushmeat. When baby chimpanzees have lost their mothers in front of her eyes, a trauma shows up and is needed a lot of attention and passion to rehabilitate them. A team of caregivers is now taking care of the baby chimp at Limbe Wildlife Center.

Positive phototaxis under the spell of a streetlamp. The lights of the city lure the Danube mayflies out due to their positive phototaxis. The mayflies (Ephemeroptera) circled around the lights for a long time, unable to break free, and sadly perished on the asphalt. Such an evening can result in ecological damage worth billions, as mayflies drying on sidewalks, roads perish along with the eggs.

Orphan giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), when they are very young, depend on constant attention from caregivers. This juvenile was found clinging to its mother, who had been run over. A tragic example of the leading cause of giant anteater population decline in Brazil: roadkill. After feeding, the animals are encouraged to walk around the facility to exercise.