A grieving pilot whale and a soaring elephant: winners of the Environmental Photography award (16 photos)

The winners of the third stage of the Environmental Photography award, organized by the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco, have been announced. The works will be presented on the Larvotto promenade in Monaco and then go on an international tour.

1st place in the Ocean Worlds category. Simon Biddy, Los Islotes, Espiritu Santo National Park, Mexico, 2022





California sea lions are under protected status in Espiritu Santo National Park in Mexico. Fishing is prohibited in this region, which provides the sea lions with a rich diet, and the restriction of human activity contributes to the stability of their population. The only threat is the climate crisis.

Environmental Photographer of the Year and 1st place winner in the Humanity vs. Nature category: Jasper Dost, 2021, Gabon



An angry elephant defends itself after being hit by a train in Lope National Park. The park staff decided that the elephant was too badly injured and shot it. The meat was distributed to local residents. With the destruction of animals' natural habitats, human-wildlife conflicts are becoming more common.

1st place in the "Polar Wonders" category. Franco Banfi, Tasiilaq, Greenland, 2018

Tiny polar ptychogastrium with a 1 centimeter dome.

1st place in the “Into the Forest” category. Kallol Mukherjee, Himalayas, India, 2018



Kallol Mukherjee captured a snowstorm in the Himalayas at an altitude of 4,267 meters just as a flock of bluebirds invaded the landscape.

1st place in the category "Changemakers: Reasons for Hope." Marcus Vestberg, Malawi, 2022



Transporting elephants from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu National Park, Malawi. The animals are put into a sleep state, then placed into trucks using cranes, after which they are awakened. All these manipulations are carried out with the utmost care and respect for the animals and help regulate population numbers.

2nd place in the category "Changemakers: Reasons for Hope." Tommy Trenchard, Buffelsfontein, South Africa, 2022



Wildlife Forensics Academy students examine a crime scene. The first of its kind, the training facility aims to train game wardens and other conservation officers in the skills to collect critical forensic evidence needed to stop poaching.

2nd place in the “Into the Forest” category. Soumya Ranjan Bhattacharya, Amboli, Maharashtra, India, 2022



The Deccan banded gecko (Cyrtodactylus deccanensis) is endemic to the Western Ghats in India.

2nd place in the Polar Wonders category. Knut M Selmer, Spitsbergen, Norway, 2020



The arctic fox, sometimes called the arctic fox, is often found on Svalbard, although it has been hunted for more than two centuries.

2nd place in the Ocean Worlds category. Franco Banfi, Tenerife, Spain, 2019



A short-finned pilot whale carries its dead calf.

2nd place in the "Humanity vs. Nature" category. Giacomo d'Orlando, Java, Indonesia, 2022



In February 2022, photographer Giacomo d'Orlando began exploring the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and coastal environments, showing how people adapt to life in these conditions.

3rd place in the Polar Wonders category. Dustin Patard, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, 2022



A dog sled races across the melting ice of Frobisher Bay near Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, June 2022.

3rd place in the "Humanity vs. Nature" category. Pratik Chorge, Maharashtra, India, 2019



A 20,000 liter water tank fills in two hours and empties in five to seven minutes.

3rd place in the Ocean Worlds category. Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait, 2022



The photo was taken in Kuwaiti waters east of Qaruh Island. The abandoned oil rig has become an artificial reef, attracting both divers and fishermen.

3rd place in the category "Changemakers: Reasons for Hope." Tom Schlesinger, Israel, 2019



The coral nursery, known as an igloo, is a dome-shaped artificial reef. For 20 years now, many fish and other marine animals have lived here.

3rd place in the “Into the Forest” category. Clement Fontaine, Pentanal, Brazil, 2021



“Having followed the female jaguar for almost a whole day on the river bank, we suddenly saw her jump into the water and begin to fight with the caiman,” the author said.

School Students' Choice 2023: David Foerhelm, Myrdalsjökull Glacier, Iceland, 2019



The beauty of Iceland captivated Monaco schoolchildren. Mýrdalsjökull, the country's fourth largest glacier, boasts surreal caves and landscapes.