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Paul Hilton's Image
Nothing prepared Paul for what he saw, or smelled. Some 4,000 defrosting pangolins hidden in a shipping container behind a façade of frozen fish. This was one of the largest seizures of the animals on record. ‘Wildlife crime is big business,’ says Paul. ‘It will stop only when the demand stops.’
Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked animal, with all eight species targeted. Pangolin meat is eaten to demonstrate status and their scales are wrongly believed to treat a variety of ailments. These dead pangolins pictured were probably destined for China and Vietnam for the exotic meat trade or for use in traditional medicine.
Behind the lens
Paul Hilton
UK/Australia
Paul is a photojournalist and wildlife trade consultant who focuses on global environmental and conservation issues. He endeavours to bring about urgent change in how we treat our surroundings. Widely published in leading international media, he is a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and has received many awards for his conservation photography.
Image details
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- 16-35mm f2.8 lens at 21mm
- 1/800 sec at f8
- Medan, Indonesia
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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