Morgan Heim
A Big Shot for a Tiny Rabbit, 2021
Columbia Basin, Washington State, United States
Category - Change Makers: Reason for Hope
A Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), of which there are fewer than 150 left in the wild, has just received a life-saving vaccine. After surviving decades of habitat destruction, megafires and drought, the tiny rabbits now face a deadly European hemorrhagic fever that has spilled over from domesticated and farmed rabbits. Luckily, there is a well-proven vaccine that can help stop the disease in its tracks. A network of biologists led by Jon Gallie (holding the rabbit) with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and volunteers have banded together to catch every single rabbit still living and administer the vaccine. Their efforts met with great success in 2021, although they remain ongoing to ensure their survival.
24-70 mm f/2.8 Lens - 1/125 sec at f/8 ISO 125