In a world where images can incite action, Brazilian conservation photographer Fernando Faciole uses his lens to narrate stories of hope and survival. His haunting picture "Orphan of the Road" has won him the Impact Award at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 held at the Natural History Museum in London. Picked from more than 60,000 entries from 130 countries, the image showcases the plight of giant anteaters in Brazil, which are becoming victims of increasing road collisions.
How did your journey in photography begin?
“I grew up travelling with my family in a trailer through Brazil’s Atlantic Forest,” Faciole recalled. “That is where my love for nature began.” His curiosity grew during fishing trips with his father, which sparked an early passion for wildlife, BBC Wildlife reported. “I started photographing at 15, but in 2021, I shifted to conservation photography,” he said.
Which image means the most to you?
“One of my most important photographs shows a lowland tapir whose paws were burnt in the Pantanal wildfires,” he said. “After months of care, the animal was released back into the wild. That image brought global attention to the Pantanal ecosystem.”
What was your most unforgettable wildlife encounter?
“In 2023, while working with the Giant Armadillo Project in the Pantanal, we found a burrow sealed with sand,” Faciole shared. “When the trap bell rang, we found a female armadillo but then saw her pup looking at us. That was one of the most touching moments of my career.”
Have you ever faced danger in the field?
“Yes,” he laughed. “Once, during a night hike in the Atlantic Forest, my guide and I smelt a jaguar nearby. We could see its glowing eyes in the dark. It was just curious, but it was unforgettable.”
“In 2016, I saw a giant anteater in Costa Rica, believed to be extinct locally,” he said. “I didn’t have my camera, and no one believed me. I still regret that day.”
Which species are you most eager to photograph next?
“In Brazil, I would love to photograph the jaguarundi, one of the most elusive cats,” he said. “Outside Brazil, my dream is to capture the leopard seal in Antarctica.”
What has been your toughest assignment so far?
“While working on a story about flamingos in the Dominican Republic, I visited resorts that kept them illegally,” he said. “I tried to go undercover, blending in as a tourist. It was difficult but necessary to expose their situation.”
How do you cope with discomfort in the field?
“Once in the Pantanal, I crawled through mud for half an hour to photograph a tayra,” Faciole said. “I got scratched and covered in mud, but the image made it worth it.”
What species fascinate you most today?
“Lately, I’ve been focusing on Xenarthrans – anteaters, armadillos and sloths,” he said. “I feel deeply connected to them.”
What gear do you rely on most?
“As a photojournalist, I need a 24–70mm lens,” he said. “I mostly shoot at 35mm, but that extra range is vital.”
“If you want to tell meaningful stories, work with scientists and local communities,” he advised. “Start close to home. The more you understand your subject, the stronger your story becomes.”
A storyteller for conservation
Now a National Geographic Explorer, Faciole has worked across more than 30 countries, documenting endangered species and fragile ecosystems. His photographs have appeared in National Geographic Magazine and BBC Wildlife Magazine, and he has received honours such as the Environmental Photography Award, the Wildscreen Panda Award, and a spot on Forbes Under 30 Brazil (2025).
He is currently documenting the endangered giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in Rio Doce State Park, Brazil, alongside ICAS researchers. “Giving these animals a voice is my mission,” he said. “Through photography, I hope people see not just beauty, but responsibility.”
About the photographer: Fernando Faciole is a conservation biologist and member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). Visit fernandofaciole.com to learn more about his work.
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