The impressive photos taken by Alessandro Cinque, a photojournalist settled in Peru, which tell the story of how alpaca breeders and scientists are working together to protect alpacas from climate change, made it possible for him to win the 2023
World Press Photo Regional Award, in the South America, Stories category.
This was highlighted by the
Pulitzer Center —where he is the recipient of a grant— on Twitter, adding that the photojournalist participated in the contest with the project
Alpaqueros (Alpaca farmers)
"This story is a great example of solutions-based journalism, telling a story about the climate crisis from a fresh angle. The photographer captures a multilayered story and balances narratives about loss and preservation," said the jury in a comment.
One of these stunning pictures appeared on the cover of the Chinese version of the prestigious National Geographic magazine in 2022.
According to the Pulitzer Center, in Alpaqueros, Cinque examines how climate change has affected alpacas in the Andean region of Peru.
Moreover,
the article noted that Cinque's photo stories record the alpacas' seasonal migration, the local economies that depend on them, and the research centers that aim to combat the effects of climate change on the animals.
The Pulitzer Center's news item mentioned the fact that his photos are published in two stories: "The High-Altitude Quest To Save Alpacas" in English for National Geographic and "The Resilience of Alpacas" in Italian for Internazionale.
According to the project's description section, climate crisis is putting alpacas and the communities they sustain at risk. Shorter rainy seasons and more intense, longer periods of drought are shrinking natural pastures and reducing the quality of the grass on which alpacas feed.
In addition, meltwater from Peru's glaciers, which supports high meadows during the long dry season, is declining rapidly. Peruvian glaciers retreated by 53 percent between 1962 and 2016.
These challenges threaten not only the alpacas, but the loss of high-Andean cultural identity, as alpaquero (alpaca-farmer) communities are forced to move to even greater altitudes, or to abandon their lifestyles entirely and seek work in low-lying cities.
Scientists hope to help address the problem using biotechnology to create alpaca breeds more resistant to extremes in temperature. This would help the animals to survive harsh nights at higher altitudes, as well as thrive at lower elevations, since alpacas also suffer in warmer temperatures, from illnesses not present in highland areas.
Jury comment
"The jury was impressed by how the story narrates the relationship between people, culture and identity and demonstrates how they are deeply tied to all aspects of the changing environment and the animals living in it," according to the jury.
"The project is beautifully photographed, full of humor, and provides the perfect amount of information. Moreover, it is [a] perfect edit from start to finish as each frame is relevant and meaningful to the story, allowing the viewer to become invested," it added.
The World Press Photo Contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography. This year, 24 winners were selected from more than 60,000 entries in six world regions.
Four global contest winners will be announced on April 20, 2023. The in-person World Press Photo Exhibition will premiere in Amsterdam on April 22, and then start its worldwide tour.
(END) NDP/MAO/RMB
Published: 4/13/2023