Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Covered in oil; alive

"The pelicans' feathers were oiled, and the white sheets became an abominable viscous mess." This is how the photographer Daniel Beltrá describes the situation. With the photo of these eight pelicans rescued from last year’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Beltrá has won the prestigious 2011 Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. According to the jury, "a strong ecological demand, technical perfection, and a work of art, all at once." In addition, "the simplicity of this powerful image makes it both beautiful and terrifying."