Daniël met Caco after a three-hour trek through dense vegetation with skilled trackers. He was part of a family of 16 gorillas feeding on sweet African breadfruit. In his compelling portrait of this relaxed young gorilla, Daniël captured the inextricable connection of these wild apes with the forest on which they depend.
The nine-year-old gorilla, Caco, is preparing to leave his family – putting on muscle and getting a little too bold. He will soon become a solitary silverback, hopefully starting his own family in eight to 10 years’ time. Western lowland gorillas are still critically endangered, threatened by illegal hunting and the spread of diseases like the Ebola virus.
The Netherlands
When he was six, on a family trip to Zambia, Daniël first held a camera and realised he could create his own pictures. Having grown up in Amsterdam but being lucky enough to travel, he has been following his passion for wildlife photography. This winning image was taken when he was 16. He has finished school and is undertaking a backpacking trip across Africa.
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