Wombat lockdown by Doug Gimesy

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World Press Photo of the Year 2021 – The First Embrace

Wombat lockdown

Two baby base-nosed wombats asleep at the home of their caregiver during lockdown.

These baby wombats were found alive inside their mothers' pouches after their mothers – survivors of bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria – were killed by cars. Usually the pair would have been cared for at Goongerah Wombat Orphanage, but with the COVID-19 lockdown in place Emily Small (founder of the orphanage) had to provide them with their regular feeds at her apartment instead.

When these young wombats are released back into the wild, they will once again have to survive the effects of the climate emergency, including floods, drought and bushfires. If this wasn't enough, they will also have to cope with habitat destruction and avoiding collisions with cars on country roads.

The image was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition - Photojournalism category

Gimesy said that he hoped that success of the image woud help bring awareness to:

a) the situation (and difficulties) that some wildlife carers were facing as a result of the CoVid-19 and restrictions, following just months after stress and difficulties and stresses of the 2019/20 bushfires

b) the tragic (and often preventable e.g. slow down) issue of wildlife road trauma. A trauma that impacts the wildlife, their young, those who hit them, and the carers who look after them.

About Douglas Gimesy

Douglas is a professional conservation and wildlife photojournalist who focuses on Australian issues. A Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, he initially trained as a zoologist and microbiologist, before going on to complete a Masters courses in Environment and Bioethics. Together, these qualifications influenced him to decide to focus his work on conservation and animal welfare issues.