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 photo entries across the globe. The photo emerged as the overall best in a tight competition that attracted over 20,000 entries from 154 countries.
The award-winning photo of Najin was captured by Slovenian explorer and photographer, Matjaz Krivic alongside another photo of the long-running eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands.
“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. According to one of the judges at the competition, “the images are tender and intimate.”
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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.
Krivic’s two entries earned him the Travel Photographer of the Year award, in 2022. In the photo that warmed the hearts of many, the rhino was pictured with her keeper Zachary Mutai resting on her back under the sun. The two were also photographed as the keeper holds the horn and eye of the rhino.
As the overall winner, the photographer was awarded a Ksh151,780 (£1000) cash prize and a new camera, personalized plastic sandwich leather portfolio book, and membership in the Royal Photographic Society plus Tonic magazine among other benefits.
Krivic is a passionate 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,” he said in a past interview.
