Thomas Peschak's Image

Thomas Peschak (Germany/South Africa) documents the relationship between endangered Amazon river dolphins – also known as botos, or pink river dolphins – and the people who share their watery home.

An Amazon river dolphin explores a flooded forest just outside Anavilhanas National Park, upstream from Manaus in Brazil.

The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Only this species has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat.

“River dolphins are almost always photographed in contrived situations, being held and fed to ensure encounters for tourists,” says Editor and Chair of the Jury Kathy Moran. “What a delight to see this animal in its habitat, straddling that space between river and forest. The balance between the green of the trees and the tannin of the river is perfect and the body language of the animal – like an angel with wings – is magical.”