At 17 minutes past midnight, two men in the Costa Rican rainforest fight to save a tapir from a flesh-eating parasite. Michiel van Noppen was there to photograph the action in style
A headtorch, a flash and a dragged shutter were key to the success of this dramatic picture
At 17 minutes past midnight, a peculiar scene unfolded in the Costa Rican rainforest as two men worked tirelessly to save a Baird's tapir from a deadly flesh-eating parasite. Michiel van Noppen, a photographer, documented this harrowing moment in his award-winning series, Tales of the Forest Keepers. The tapir's head was marred with scars and an open wound, a result of screwworm infestation, a dangerous parasite that has recently returned to the region due to illegal livestock trafficking.
The photograph, taken at night with a Canon EOS R6 camera, reveals the harsh reality of the situation with a combination of high ISO, slow shutter speed, and flash. The resulting image effectively highlights the drama and the act of care, focusing on the team's relentless efforts to treat the animal rather than the humans involved.
This striking image, part of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition, serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing threats faced by wildlife in the Costa Rican rainforest.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
