Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean 2023, SA

Finalist Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

Sirachai Arunrugstichai Rayong, Thailand

12°41'43.8"N 101°38'07.8"E

Paradorn, an orphaned Irrawaddy dolphin calf is cradled to sleep by a caretaker at the Marine Endangered Species Veterinarian Hospital in Rayong, Thailand. "The baby dolphin was rescued from a stranding in the Gulf of Thailand and was taken into care as the chance for an orphaned dolphin to survive on its own without its mother in the wild is slim," says Arunrugstichai. "Sadly, the dolphin calf eventually died a month later despite the efforts by the caretakers."

BEHIND THE LENS

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean 2023, SA

Sirachai Arunrugstichai Thailand

ABOUT THE IMAGE

Rainy evening
Thunderstorm conditions
Taken in rehabilitation pond
3-day shoot

Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai is a Thai photojournalist and marine biologist focused on marine conservation and humanity’s complex relationship with the ocean. An Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, a National Geographic Explorer and a Vital Impacts' Sylvia Earle Grant recipient, Shin’s work spans from environmental crises to social issues. His images have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, often through his role with Getty Images. When not in the field, Shin contributes to shark and ray research in Southeast Asia as a co-founder of Thai Sharks and Rays, a collaborative marine science initiative.