Pictures of the Year International

Chimpanzees aren't merely a species in dramatic decline; sharing a 98.7% genetic similarity with humans, their history on Earth is intricately woven with ours. Amidst the ongoing sixth mass extinction, human-induced pressures perilously propel this species toward collapse. Among the imminent threats they face, poaching and the subsequent illegal trade stand prominently. Beyond being a source of meat, the purchase of chimpanzees also carries societal prestige, hindering the shift to the meat of less endangered species. The image depicts the heads of two chimpanzees, a baby and an adult, offered for sale in a local market in Douala, Cameroon (July 2023). Although their sale is prohibited, it continues to occur. Typically, adults are hunted for meat, and babies are sold as pets when they can be taken alive. Something that did not happen here, where both, likely a mother and her baby according to locals, were offered for consumption. This photograph encapsulates the profound vulnerability of a species subject to human decisions, underscoring our collective inability to preserve even those species that are part of our recent history. The image is part of a project carried out in collaboration with the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance across African countries in which I show the critical conservation state of chimpanzees and the concerted efforts by diverse institutions in Africa to safeguard this emblematic species.