(CBS) -- A heartfelt picture of a young gorilla embraced by her rescuer was chosen as the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. The photo was captured by wildlife photographer Jo-Anne McArthur during a six-week stay as a volunteer at an animal sanctuary called "Ape Action Africa" in Cameroon.
The winning image shows Pikin, a lowland gorilla, waking up in the arms of her caretaker, Appolinaire Ndohoudou, while she was being moved between animal sanctuaries. McArthur, who was in the passenger seat, said she was "nervous" as she snapped photos of the pair, but had a feeling it was special.
"I knew in that moment it was truly unique," McArthur told CBS News in a phone interview.
McArthur's photo was picked from a shortlist of 24, selected by staff at the Natural History Museum of London from almost 50,000 entires submitted for the 2017 competition.
Upon learning her image earned the international distinction, McArthur was "overjoyed." However, she points out a darker reality about the heartwarming picture.
