Pursuing poachers: These striking images show the forensic evidence left by the illegal wildlife trade — a handprint on a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and fingerprints on an elephant tusk; both confiscated at London Heathrow Airport, UK. The photographs earned Britta Jaschinski first prize in the 2026 Earth Photo Award. Jaschinski worked with border-force operations and wildlife crime units to document elements of the illegal poaching trade, which is worth an estimated US$23 billion per year.
Credits: 1. Britta Jaschinski, Forensics Fingerprints 2025, UK. Earth Photo 2026 Award 2. Britta Jaschinski, Every Crime Leaves a Trace, 2025, Wildlife Crime Lab, Institute of Zoology (IOZ), London, UK. Earth Photo 2026 Award
