The Return of the Rhino

• Prize
• Photographer
  Neil Aldridge, United Kingdom
• Socials
• Website
  http://www.conservationphotojournalism.com

Across Africa, rhinos are fighting for survival. By 1960, poaching had decimated Africa’s
300,000-strong white rhino population – fewer than 100 survived. Poachers then shifted
their attention to black rhinos. By 1992, there were no wild rhinos left in Botswana.

After a brief recovery, poachers have been killing more than three rhinos every day in
South Africa alone since 2008. All of this killing is to feed the demand for rhino horn
amongst a growing middle class in the Far East, where it is believed – wrongly – that the
product has medicinal properties.

With South Africa championing consumptive use of rhinos, Botswana could be their last
hope. One team is working to increase and protect populations of black and white rhinos in
Botswana. This is both the story of the return of the rhino to Botswana and how the
country is leading the recovery of these species amidst a global poaching crisis.

• Biography
  Neil Aldridge is a conservationist, photographer, lecturer at Falmouth University, World Press winner, chair of the World Press Nature & Environment jury, and a trustee of the charity Animals Saving Animals.
• Awards
  2018 World Press, Winner, Environment singles ​Picture of the Year International, 2nd place, Science & Natural History Sony World Photography Awards, Shortlisted, Natural World & Wildlife European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Man & Nature Magical Nature, Highly Commended, Man & Nature NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Winner, Environment story NPPA Best of Photojournalism, Honourable Mention, Environment single Paris Photo Prize, 3rd Place, Press Paris Photo Prize, Gold Award, Nature Nature Photographer of the Year, Winner, Portfolio 2017 MontPhoto Contest, Highly Commended, Environmental report MontPhoto Contest, Highly Commended, Environmental report Montphoto WWF Grant, Shortlisted Finalist Oasis Photo Contest, Winner, story 2016 Nature Images Awards, Highly Commended, Mankind & Nature Photoreport Montphoto WWF Grant, Shortlisted Finalist Sunday Times Wilderness Photograph of the Year, Finalist Asferico Photo Contest, Highly Commended, Mammals Asferico Photo Contest, Highly Commended, Urban Nature Golden Turtle, Commended, Mammals ​2015 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Urban Nature Images Awards, Highly Commended, Threatened Species Report 2014 European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Grand Title Winner European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Underwater Wildlife Photographer of the Year, People’s Choice Nominee Nature's Best Awards, Highly Honoured, Art in Nature 2013 British Wildlife Photography Awards, Winner, Documentary British Wildlife Photography Awards, Highly Commended, Wild Woods British Wildlife Photography Awards, Highly Commended, Botanical Britain 2012 Int. Conservation Photography Awards, 3rd Place, Documentary Int. Conservation Photography Awards, Highly Commended, Landscapes 2011 British Wildlife Photography Awards, Winner, Documentary 2010 Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Highly Commended, Gerald Durrell Award iLCP, 12Shots 'Extinction' Exhibition