Photojournalist Britta Jaschinski has claimed the top prize at the Earth Photo 2026 Awards for her haunting portfolio highlighting forensic science and the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. The UK-based German photographer, a multi-award winner, adds this accolade to the Environmental Photographer of the Year Grand Prize she received in April from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Portfolio Captures Wildlife Crime Investigations
Jaschinski's latest series was photographed across the UK and Europe with wildlife crime units using both new and old techniques to tackle trafficking. The objects depicted include a stuffed lion's head, a bottle opener made from a lion's paw, myriad reptile skins, an elephant's foot and ivory, and other remains. Her unflinching lens highlights how these majestic animals have been debased into commodities and the investigators tirelessly working to find the perpetrators.
Forensic Breakthrough with Green Sea Turtle
The most arresting photograph features a dead green sea turtle that looks like a scene from a fluorescing coral reef. Upon closer inspection, a handprint on the turtle's shell is illuminated by special powder dye applied by a forensic expert. The turtle, though appearing in its natural habitat, is another victim. “Seeing that level of forensic expertise applied to a turtle was both unexpected and extraordinary. Watching the team work felt almost like witnessing magic,” Jaschinski told CNN in an email. “What stayed with me most was the sense of hope, also because this can act as a deterrent. For too long, organised criminal networks have viewed wildlife trafficking as a low-risk, high-reward enterprise, with low conviction rates and relatively light penalties. As forensic science becomes more sophisticated, that equation is beginning to shift.”
Wildlife Crime Lab Advances
The image foregrounds the work of Louise Gibson and Alexandra Thomas, who spearhead the Wildlife Crime Lab at the Institute of Zoology, the research division of the Zoological Society of London. The lab's research has shown that some new-generation powders can recover quality fingerprints from 70% of wildlife specimens tested, and that it's possible to recover DNA left by individuals handling specimens. It shares its research with authorities including Greater London’s Metropolitan Police and border forces in 40 countries.
