Series description
The Congo dwarf crocodile is a protected species, but traditional hunting is still allowed for local consumption at Lake Télé Community Reserve in the Republic of Congo. As hunters catch them in huge numbers, park rangers try to monitor the population and release as many as they can back into the wild. These images were taken while on assignment for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Biography
Thomas Nicolon is a multimedia storyteller and a National Geographic explorer. His photo work focuses on wildlife conservation, and has been published in National Geographic, Le Monde, GEO, Reuters and many more outlets. Thomas lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 5 years and in Peru for 2 years, covering conservation in the Congo basin and the Amazon rainforest. He's now back in France developping new projetcs.
Brice and His Catch
Itoua Brice poses with a dwarf crocodile he caught in the swamps of Lake Télé Community Reserve. The liana Brice holds in his right hand has a hook attached to it, which is the weapon of choice for pulling crocodiles out of their den.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
A Night in the Forest
Hunters rest around a campfire after a day hunting crocodiles in the swamps of Lake Télé Community Reserve.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Big Seizure
A park ranger watches over several dwarf crocodiles that have been confiscated from poachers at Lake Télé Community Reserve.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Back to the Wild
A park ranger releases a dwarf crocodile back into the water after it was confiscated from poachers at Lake Télé Community Reserve.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Raising Awareness
An educator from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) teaches school children in Epena, Republic of Congo, about protected species.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Crocodile Heaven
The sun sets on Lake Télé Community Reserve. This protected area is run by Congo wildlife authorities and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and is home to a great number of dwarf crocodiles. In recent years the population of this species appears to have reduced due to hunting.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards
Caught
A young Congo dwarf crocodile is caught by a hunter at Lake Télé Community Reserve.
© Thomas Nicolon, France, Shortlist, Professional competition, Wildlife & Nature, 2025 Sony World Photography Awards