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Picture of de-horned, dead black rhino wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

The shocking image which shows a de-horned and deceased black rhino bull has won its photographer the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for 2017.

The heartbreaking picture, called 'Memorial to a species', was captured by Brent Stirton at South Africa’s Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.

It was taken by Mr Stirton, a photojournalist, during an undercover investigation into the illegal trade in rhino horn.

According to information about the distressing image, it is thought the poachers responsible for the animal's death entered the reserve illegally, ambushed the rhino and shot it, before leaving its disfigured corpse behind.

The poachers are believed to have come from a local community.

Photojournalist Brent Stirton has won the prestigious title for the shocking image of the dead black rhino. Source: Brent Stirton via Yahoo UK
Photojournalist Brent Stirton has won the prestigious title for the shocking image of the dead black rhino. Source: Brent Stirton via Yahoo UK

Mr Stirton's poignant image beat close to 50,000 entries from 92 countries for the grand title in the competition run by the UK's Natural History Museum.

Lewis Blackwell, Chair of the jury said, "When an image shocks and assaults us, there needs to be good reason. With this one, there is."

"The stark simplicity forces us to witness the brutal, tragic, stupid waste of a poacher’s work."

According to the World Wildlife Fund website the black rhino population is between just 5,000 and 5,400.

Natural History Museum Director Sir Michael Dixon said Brent’s image "highlights the urgent need for humanity to protect our planet and the species we share it with".

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Daniël Nelson was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Source: Daniël Nelson via Yahoo UK
Daniël Nelson was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Source: Daniël Nelson via Yahoo UK

The award for Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 was taken out by Daniël Nelson for an image of a gorilla lying on the forest floor whilst feeding on fleshy African breadfruit.

The exhibition, which includes 100 images, opens on October 20 2017 at the museum in London before it is taken overseas where it will be showcased in a number of other countries including Australia.