“Wanted!”
This photo by Britta Jaschinski shows the blue-tinged ore coltan illuminated by torchlight and surrounded by animal bones and mining tools. The minerals found in coltan are an essential component of many electronics, but the bones, which include a gorilla skull, highlight the hidden costs of the industry. In areas where coltan mining is pervasive, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. exploited miners who are paid little will turn to hunting to survive. This hunting can then further threaten the already scarce populations of gorillas and other animals in the area. Increased animal-to-human contact also raises the risk of encountering emerging infectious diseases that can spill over into the greater human population and cause mass illness.
This image is a highly commended selection in the “Photojournalism” category.
