Out of Africa

Brent Stirton's Image

An undercover ranger in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park responds to an elephant death by de-tusking the corpse.

The elephant was killed by a spear stroke. Most are shot. The Kenya Wildlife Service is under-resourced and cannot keep pace with the poachers. ‘With more than 25,000 elephants killed each year and an African elephant population no more than 500,000, it is’, says Brent, ‘not enough to vilify the poachers without understanding the truth behind the illegal trade.’


Behind the lens

Brent Stirton

Brent Stirton

South Africa

Brent is a Senior Correspondent for Getty Images. He does most of his work for National Geographic Magazine, focusing on the intersection of humans and the environment.

Image details

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • 24mm f1.4 lens at 24mm
  • 1/250 sec at f10
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

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