Deep in the Costa Rican rainforest, an adult tapir teaches a youngster to survive in the most fragile of ecosystems. Here's how this prize-winning photography captured the scene so beautifully

Deep in the Costa Rican rainforest, a mother Baird's tapir teaches its young one how to survive in an ecosystem that relies on a delicate symbiosis. This extraordinary relationship between the tapir and the Jícaro Danto tree was captured beautifully by Dutch biologist and photojournalist Michiel van Noppen in his winning submission for the Fritz Pölking Prize.

The photograph, titled "Tales of the Forest Keepers," showcases two tapirs, Mamita, the older tapir wearing a GPS collar, and Julian, the youngster, foraging near the tree's base, adorned with cucumber-like fruit. The Jícaro Danto tree, found only in the Guanacaste Mountain Range, has a unique dispersal method, relying solely on the Baird's tapir to eat its fruit, travel long distances, and deposit the seeds in nutrient-rich feces.

The image was captured using a Nikon D3100, a 14MP APS-C DSLR, and a Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens, set to an 18mm focal length, yielding a well-framed shot that highlights the tree's central role, the tapirs' interactions, and the surrounding dense forest. Juror Hanneke Van Camp praised the photograph for its ability to visually represent the complex connections between species, illustrating the harmonious coexistence between nature and people.

Van Noppen will be honored as a winner at the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition, taking place on October 23.