AP photographer Natacha Pisarenko honored by Pictures of the Year International

Natacha Pisarenko, AP’s chief photographer for the Southern Cone countries of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile, won first place for her photograph "Standing in a Doorway" and an Award of Excellence for "Zoo Crisis" from Pictures of the Year International.

Pisarenko’s haunting images decict caged animals languishing in a 140-year-old Argentinian zoo as noisy renovations to turn the zoo into a park go on around them.

Born in Buenos Aires, Pisarenko has covered major news and sports events in Latin America and around the world. She studied photography at the city’s School of Photographic Arts and began her photojournalism career at La Nacion, one of Argentina’s largest newspapers.

Video by Paul Byrne | Edited by Dario Lopez-Mills

In this July 5, 2016 photo, a tapir rests its hooves on the edge of an opening of an enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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In this May 12, 2017 photo, Pupy, an African elephant, stands in the doorway of his enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 8, 2016 photo, a young baboon clings to its mother in their enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 2, 2016 photo, Shaki, from left to right, Ciro and Buddy, look out from their giraffe enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this May 12, 2017 photo, a lone mandril sits inside an enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this May 12, 2017 photo, African elephant Pupy lies on a patch of mud at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 5, 2016 photo, a chimpanzee uses ropes to navigate in an enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 15, 2016 photo, Sandra, the orangutan, walks in her enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 7, 2016 photo, a vicuna stands in an enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

In this July 15, 2016 photo, Cleo, a female white tiger, jumps on the safety glass of her enclosure reacting to painters working on an improvement project, at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

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Natacha Pisarenko on Instagram

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