Orphan of the Road | Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Fernando Faciole’s Image

Fernando Faciole (Brazil) watches an orphaned giant anteater pup follow its caregiver at a rehabilitation centre.

Road collisions are a leading cause of the decline in giant anteater numbers in Brazil.

This pup’s mother was killed by a vehicle. Its caregiver will encourage it to develop crucial survival skills, with the goal of releasing it back into the wild.

Rehabilitation centres like this are run by the Anteaters and Highways project of the Wild Animal Conservation Institute.

The Institute is also developing strategies to reduce anteater deaths on Brazil’s roads. These include putting up fences and building underground tunnels to allow the anteaters to cross safely.