2024 Edition

Shibasish Saha

For Protection

Human-elephant conflict, India, 2023

Category - Humanity Versus Nature

For Protection

In the rural areas of West Bengal, India, elephants in search of food are approaching villages and agricultural fields, causing widespread destruction and endangering local populations. Massive deforestation and growing human pressure on their habitat are forcing elephants to move. Their natural migration corridors are also increasingly frequented by humans. This photograph clearly illustrates the problems of cohabiting with these wild animals. Just as the police have cleared an access road so that the elephants can cross safely, a man approaches with a tree branch and angrily chases them away. Local people have had to learn how to deal with these situations, but fear often dominates and sometimes leads to aggressive behaviour.

HONOURABLE MENTION

24-70 mm f/2.8 Lens - 1/320 sec at f/2.8 ISO 10000