|
Animals in their environment winner: Snow-Plateau Nomads by Shangzhen Fan, China. A herd of chiru leave a trail on a snow-veiled slope in China’s Altun Shan national nature reserve. These antelopes, to survive at elevations of up to 5,500 metres (18,000ft) have unique underfur – shahtoosh – very light, warm and the main reason for the species’ drastic decline. A million chiru once ranged across this plateau, but commercial hunting left only about 70,000 individuals. Rigorous protection has brought a small increase, but demand for shahtoosh shawls still exists. (Photo by Fan Shangzhen/2019 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)
|
