The photo is the highest possible award at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017

The photo was taken by American photographer Justin Hofman as "Sewage surfer", capturing an image of a seahorse pulling a cotton swab under the Indonesian sea . This is just one of many photos that raise concerns about environmental pollution worldwide.

Wildlife Photograph of the Year is a prestigious annual award organized by London Natural History Museum. As always, Wildlife Photograph of the Year 2017 attracts tens of thousands of photos of wild animals from many countries and territories around the world.

Wildlife Photograph of the Year - the prestigious photography competition of London's Natural History Museum.

Photos of the nominated wild life in many categories still revolve around the topic of environmental pollution - the common problem of the human world and all living things on earth.

One of the most painful photos at the competition was a picture of a seahorse pulling a cotton swab from American photographer Justin Hofman.

Photo "Sewage surfer".

In order to perform the "Sewage surfer" image, Justin had to dive into the heavily polluted coral reef near Sumbawa Island, Indonesia - where the mud was not full. when the tide invades.

Sadly, while working, unfortunately dirty water has filled the photographer's breathing tube, making him . hospitalized the next day.

Despite having the most abundant marine life in the world, Indonesia is second after China to pollute the sea from plastic waste.

Currently, 83% of all domestic water samples are contaminated by micro-plastic particles. Another study earlier this year showed that the vast majority of salt samples were also heavily contaminated with micro-plastic, even in the bodies of marine species now full of human-made plastic pieces.

Justin Hofman is one of 14 strong candidates for the final award at Wildlife Photograph of the Year 2017. Among the nominees is a photographer who is only 14 years old but is ready to wait for 2 days just to take a photo of a bobcat in the forest, or a photo of a fox on Wrangle Island in the Russian National Reserve.

In addition to a photo of Justin Hofman, here are the tests that have reached the final round of Wildlife Photograph of the Year 2017:

Ashleigh Scully's "Bear Hug" is taken at Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.Young photographer category (11-14 years old)

"Arctic Treasure" by Sergey Gorshkov, taken at Wranglel Island, Russia.Item of animal portrait

Jack Dykinga's "Saguaro Twist" (Saguaro Twist), taken in Arizona, USA.Plant photos category

"The insiders" by photographer Qing Lin, taken in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia.Category of underwater photos

"Resplendent Delivery" by Tyohar Kastiel, taken in Costa Rica.Category of bird pictures

"Bold Eagle" by photographer Klaus Nigge, taken in Alaska.Item of animal portrait

"Romance among the angels" by photographer Andrey Narchuk in Russia.Categories of invertebrate photos

"Winter Pause" (photographic winter silence) by photographer Mats Andersson in Sweden.Black and white photo item

"Swim gym" by Laurent Ballesta photographer taken in the east of Antarctica.Image of mammals

"Glimpse of a Lynx" by photographer Laura Albiac in Spain.Young photographer category (11-14 years old)

"Saved but caged" by Steve Winter photographer, taken in Sumatra, Indonesia.Category of wildlife

"The power of the matriarch" by photographer David Lloyd taken at the Massai Mara Reserve, Kenya.Item of animal portrait