SNAP-CHAT

Fernando Faciole on armadillos, tapirs and being stalked by a jaguar

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How did your career start?

I spent much of my childhood with my family in a trailer in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, where my love for nature began. Later, I went fishing with my dad, which made me even more curious about wildlife. I started photographing wildlife at 15. In 2021, I shifted to conservation photography.

Which of your images is most important to you, and why?

Last year I took a photo of a lowland tapir with all four paws burned due to the Pantanal wildfires. It went through a long rehabilitation process before being reintroduced into the wild. The image brought great attention to this ecosystem.

What's been your most memorable experience with wildlife?

In 2023, I was in the Pantanal, working with the Giant Armadillo Project. We found a burrow with the entrance sealed with sand, which meant there was an armadillo inside. The team set up a trap to capture the animal and fit a GPS tag. When the trap bell rang, we ran to check it. Inside was a female but then we saw something else. A small pup was still in the burrow, looking at us. It is one of the most special moments I have ever experienced in the wild.