A photo of one of the last two white rhinos in the world currently living at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy was one of the top photos across the globe.
The photo was taken by Slovenian photographer, Matjaz Krivic alongside another photo of the long-running eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands.
With the two entries, Krivic was named the Travel Photographer of the Year award, in 2022.
The competition received at least 20,000 entries from photographers in 154 countries.
As the overall winner, the photographer was awarded a Ksh151,780 (£1000 ) cash prize and a new camera, personalised plastic sandwich leather portfolio book, and membership in the Royal Photographic Society plus Tonic magazine among other perks.
In the photo, the rhino was pictured with her keeper Zachary Mutai resting on her back under the sun. The two are also photographed as the keeper holds the horn and eye of the rhino.
“The portfolio of the 33-year-old Najin – one of the world’s last two remaining Northern White rhinos – and her keeper, Zachary Mutai, in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya tells this sad story beautifully and sensitively. The images are tender and intimate," stated one of the judges.
Najin lives at the conservancy with her daughter Fatu, where they are protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in a bid to preserve them before extinction.
The last male white rhino in the world, Sudan, died in 2021 exposing the glaring gap in conservation of endangered animals in the world.
Krivic is a documentary photographer who captures long-term stories of people and places. He has displayed his work in galleries, museums, open-air exhibitions, and international photo festivals across the globe.
"Travel and photography have been my passion and a big part of my life since I remember and this award inspires me to continue with the journey," the photographer noted in a past interview.
