The winners of the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year have been announced, showcasing stunning images from around the globe that highlight beauty, behaviour, and resilience within the natural world.
The overall winner for 2025 was awarded to Wim van den Heever of South Africa, who photographed a haunting scene of a brown hyena among the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town.
Ghost Town Visitor - Wim van den Heever, Winner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 / Urban Wildlife. Nikon D810 + 17–35mm f2.8 lens at 17mm; 15 at f2.8; ISO 3200; 2x Nikon SB-800 Speedlight flashes; Camtraptions motion sensor.
Captured with a camera trap, he says it took him 10 years to finally get this one single image of a brown hyena, 'in the most perfect frame imaginable.’
The rarest hyena species in the world, brown hyenas are nocturnal and mostly solitary. They are known to pass through Kolmanskop on their way to hunt Cape fur seal pups or scavenge for carrion washed ashore along the Namib Desert coast.
Closer to home, Australian photographer Georgina Steytler won the Behaviour: Invertebrates category, for her image Mad Hatterpillar.
Her photograph showcases a gum-leaf skeletoniser caterpillar adorned with a distinctive tower of translucent head capsules, a feature it retains after each molt.
Mad Hatterpillar - Georgina Steytler Winner, Behaviour: Invertebrates Georgina Steytler (Australia) showcases the strange headgear of a gum-leaf skeletoniser caterpillar. Georgina had been looking out for this caterpillar for years when she noticed eucalyptus trees bearing skeletonised leaves, telltale signs that the animal had been grazing. She took this image backlit by the setting sun, using a fill-in flash to illuminate the living head at the base of the stack. This caterpillar’s unusual headgear is made up of old head capsules, each retained with every moult. The resulting tower is believed to help deflect attacks by predators.Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III + 90mm f3.5 lens; 1/250 at f22; ISO 500; Godox flash
The winning images this year were chosen out of 60,636 entries, with photographers from 113 countries and territories submitting their work.
You can see all the category winners below.
Sole Survivor - Luca Lorenz, Germany Winner, Rising Star Award Luca had been watching a tree hole where this Eurasian pygmy owl and its mate were nesting. When one disappeared, the other continued feeding the chicks. On this day, the remaining bird returned clutching the chicks’ breakfast in its claws, and called for its mate, but there was no reply. Nikon Z8 + 180–600mm f5.6–6.3 lens at 600mm; 1/125 at f6.3; ISO 2500Taiga Tapestry - Alexey Kharitonov Winner, Portfolio Award for Visions of the North A kaleidoscope of colours carpets Mukhinskoye Swamp under a grey sky. Blue lakes and channels fringed with white ice contrast with green and yellow grasses and widespread sphagnum mosses, which turn vibrant orange and red during the brief autumn. DJI Mavic 2 Pro + Hasselblad L1D-20c 28mm f2.8 lens; 1/30 at f2.8 (-0.3 e/v); ISO 100Seething Pit - Javier Aznar González de Rueda Winner, Photojournalist Story Award Visitors gaze at hundreds of western diamondback rattlesnakes at the annual rattlesnake round-up in Sweetwater, Texas. Many of these snakes will be killed and sold for their skin and meat. Round-ups can harm other animals too: snakes are often driven from their rock shelters using petrol fumes, which also affect any creatures sheltering alongside them. Sony α7R III + 24–70mm f2.8 lens at 44mm; 1/30 at f10; ISO 4000How to Save a Species - Jon A Juárez Winner, Photojournalism Jon A Juárez (Spain) documents the groundbreaking science to save the northern white rhino from extinction through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Jon spent years documenting the work of the BioRescue Project, and says that witnessing a milestone in saving a species 'was something I will never forget'. This southern white rhino foetus, which did not survive due to an infection, was the result of the first successful rhino embryo transfer into a surrogate mother through IVF. This breakthrough paves the way for saving the rare northern white rhino from extinction, as scientists can take the next crucial steps towards transferring the first northern white rhino embryo into a southern white rhino surrogate. Nikon Z9 + 24–120mm f4 lens at 24mm; 1/400 at f7.1; ISO 1600; LED light panelVanishing Pond - Sebastian Frölich Winner, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture Sebastian Frölich (Germany) finds a springtail among a galaxy of neon green gas bubbles in Austrian moorlands. Sebastian visited this fragile wetland ecosystem to highlight its importance as a vast store of carbon dioxide and as a habitat for diverse wildlife. A tiny springtail ran across escaping gas bubbles rising through the algae, giving this image a sense of scale. Austria has lost 90 per cent of its peat bogs, and only 10 per cent of those that remain are in good condition. Platzertal is one of the last intact high moorlands in the Austrian Alps, and an area renowned for its carbon-storing peat bogs. Nikon Z7 + 105mm f2.8 lens; 1/800 at f9 (-1.67 e/v); ISO 400Deadly Allure - Chien Lee Winner, Plants and Fungi Chien Lee (Malaysia) uses a UV torch to reveal the fluorescent world of an insect-attracting pitcher plant. Insects can see ultraviolet (UV) light, but humans can’t, so Chien used a long exposure and a UV torch. Waiting until after sunset, he had just a five-minute window before the ambient light illuminating the backdrop disappeared completely. Some carnivorous pitcher plants reflect UV light on certain areas as part of their ‘display’. They use colour, scent and nectar to lure their prey into pools of digestive juices at the bottom of their leaves. Nikon Z9 + Laowa 15mm f4 macro lens; 30 at f16; ISO 100; Convoy C8 ultraviolet torchCaught in the Headlights - Simone Baumeister Winner, Natural Artistry Simone Baumeister (Germany) shows an orb weaver spider on its web on a pedestrian bridge, silhouetted by lights from the cars below. To achieve this kaleidoscopic effect, Simone reversed one of the six glass elements in an analogue lens. This distorted the image at the edges while leaving the centre sharply focused. She then cropped the picture to move the spider slightly off-centre. In urban environments, orb weaver spiders often spin webs near artificial lights that attract insects at night. The web acts as an extension of their sense organ, gathering sound and transmitting vibrations, including those of prey, to their legs. Canon EOS R5 + Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8 lens + 16mm extension tube; 1/250 at f2.8 (-1.33 e/v); ISO 1250Survival Purse - Ralph Pace Winner, Underwater Ralph Pace (USA) beautifully illuminates the egg case of a swell shark, tethered to the base of a giant kelp. Faced with strong currents pushing him from side to side, Ralph struggled to keep steady to photograph this egg case, or ‘mermaid’s purse’. He lit the case from behind to reveal the swell shark embryo within, its gill slits and yolk sac clearly visible among the dark kelp forest. Researchers estimate that kelp forests in Monterey Bay have declined by more than 95 per cent over the past 34 years. Swell sharks depend on kelp to lay their leathery eggs, making them especially vulnerable to such losses. Nikon D850 + 28–70mm f3.5–4.5 lens; 1/125 at f14; ISO 640; Nauticam housing; 2x Sea & Sea strobesAlpine Dawn - Lubin Godin Winner, 11–14 Years Lubin Godin (France) finds himself in mist-shrouded mountains with silhouetted ibex. Lubin spotted the Alpine ibex resting above a sea of clouds during an early morning ascent. As the mist rose and the sun broke over the crags, he retraced his steps to capture this ethereal moment before fog thickened and the light faded. Native to Europe, the species was hunted close to extinction in the early 1800s. Thanks to protection and reintroduction efforts, ibex now roam large areas of the Alps. However, a rapidly changing climate causing shifts in food availability during breeding seasons may hinder their survival. Canon EOS R7 + 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 lens at 140mm + 1.4x teleconverter; 1/640 at f8; ISO 100The Weaver’s Lair - Jamie Smart Winner, 10 Years and Under Jamie Smart (UK) spots an orb weaver spider inside its silken retreat on a cold September morning. Jamie first noticed the dew-laden web before realising its maker was sitting in a nest. With the patience and steadiness needed to manually focus her camera, she kept the spider perfectly lit and symmetrically framed. This spider’s web is constructed from a scaffold of radial threads, overlaid with a spiral of sticky silk to hold ensnared insects. A strong signal thread transmits vibrations to the spider’s hiding place, triggering it to emerge and collect its prey. Nikon Z9 + 105mm f2.8 lens; 1/200 at f10; ISO 80; Nikon SB-910 Speedlight flash; Cygnustech diffuserThe Feast - Audun Rikardsen Winner, Oceans: The Bigger Picture Audun Rikardsen (Norway) witnesses feeding time around an Atlantic fishing vessel during a polar night in northern Norway. Audun managed to photograph this chaotic scene of gulls attempting to catch fish trapped by nets. The gulls have learnt to follow the sound of the boats to find a herring feast. Through his work, Audun aims to draw attention to the ongoing conflict between seabirds and the fishing industry. Unfortunately, many birds drown in or around these purse seine nets each year. Various fisheries and researchers are trialling solutions, including sinking the nets more quickly to make them less accessible to the birds. Canon EOS R5 + 15–35mm f2.8 lens at 15mm; 1/200 at f4.5; ISO 10000; Canon Speedlite 600EX II flash; LED torchSynchronised Fishing - Qingrong Yang Winner, Behaviour: Birds Qingrong Yang (China) perfects photographic timing to show a ladyfish snatching its prey from right under this little egret’s beak. Qingrong was at Yundang Lake near his home, a place he visits regularly to photograph the feeding frenzies: little egrets patrol the surface, ready to pounce on fish leaping to escape underwater predators. Once a natural marine harbour, Yundang Lake was sealed off from the sea during 1970s development. Isolated from the tides and currents, it became polluted and stagnant. An engineering project later reconnected it to the sea via a system of gates that regulate water flow. Nikon Z9 + 400mm f2.8 lens; 1/2500 at f5; ISO 110Frolicking Frogs - Quentin Martinez, France Winner, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles Quentin Martinez (France) discovers a gathering of lesser tree frogs in a breeding event. In persistent rain, Quentin followed a flooded path to a temporary pool in a forest clearing. He framed this scene with a wide-angle lens and used a diffused flash, which didn’t disturb the frogs, to highlight their metallic sheen. To attract mates, lesser tree frogs produce short, shrill calls. Huge numbers gather, and the spectacular breeding event – triggered by heavy rains – lasts for just a few hours. Canon EOS 7D Mark II + 17–40mm f4 lens at 24mm; 1/200 at f16; ISO 500; 4x Meike MK320 flashes; homemade softboxShadow Hunter - Philipp Egger Winner, Animal Portraits Philipp Egger’s (Italy) patience is rewarded with the orange glint of an eagle owl’s eyes and the evening light falling on its feathers. Philipp first saw this nest while climbing and spent four years observing it from a distance. He planned this image meticulously, right down to the slight camera wobble to blur the few elements present, using a telephoto lens. About twice the weight of a buzzard and with a wingspan approaching 180 centimetres (6 feet), these formidable nocturnal predators are among the largest owls. They nest on sheltered cliff ledges or in crevices, often returning to the same site for years. Nikon Z9 + 180–600mm f5.6–6.3 lens; 1/10 at f29; ISO 320Cat Amongst the Flamingos - Dennis Stogsdill Winner, Behaviour: Mammals Dennis Stogsdill (USA) witnesses a caracal hunting a lesser flamingo in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Dennis had been keeping an eye out for wild cats such as servals for several days when a call came over the radio: one had been seen at Ndutu Lake. But it wasn’t a serval. It was a caracal, successfully hunting wading lesser flamingos. Caracals have a varied diet, from insects to antelope, and are renowned for the acrobatic leaps they make to snatch birds from the air. But there are few, if any, records of them hunting flamingos. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II + 600mm f4 lens; 1/1600 at f5.6; ISO 2500Like an Eel out of Water - Shane Gross Winner, Animals in their Environment Shane Gross (Canada) witnesses a peppered moray eel very much in its element hunting for carrion at low tide. It took Shane numerous attempts over several weeks to document this rarely photographed behaviour. At first the eels were elusive, but once Shane realised that they were scavenging for dead fish, he waited. His patience was soon rewarded when these three eels appeared. Peppered moray eels are well adapted to the intertidal zone. They can hunt both above and below the water’s surface using their keen senses of smell and sight, sometimes staying out of water for more than 30 seconds. Nikon Z6 + 24–70mm lens at 24mm; 1/250 at f5.6; ISO 2500; Godox AD400 Pro flash with 24-inch diffuser; light standOrphan of the Road - Fernando Faciole Winner, Impact Award, 2025 / Highly Commended, Photojournalism Fernando Faciole (Brazil) watches an orphaned giant anteater pup follow its caregiver after an evening feed at a rehabilitation centre. Fernando wanted to highlight the consequences of road collisions, a leading cause of the decline in giant anteater numbers in Brazil. This pup’s mother was killed by a vehicle, and the hope is that it will be released back into the wild after being encouraged to develop crucial survival skills by its caregiver. Alongside rehabilitation centres, the Anteaters and Highways project of the Wild Animal Conservation Institute is developing strategies to reduce anteater deaths on Brazil’s roads. These include erecting fences and building underground tunnels to allow the anteaters to cross safely. Nikon D850 + 24–70mm f2.8 lens at 28mm; 0.8 at f22; ISO 31; Nikon Speedlight flash with Greica CT-16 transmitter/receiverAfter the Destruction - Andrea Dominizi, Winner, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 / 15 – 17 Years. Andrea Dominizi (Italy) finds a longhorn beetle – a forest sentinel observing an intruder. Andrea noticed this longhorn beetle while walking in the Lepini Mountains of central Italy, in an area once logged for old beech trees. Using a wide-angle lens and off-camera flash, he framed the beetle against abandoned machinery. Andrea’s photograph tells a poignant story of habitat loss. As longhorn beetles tunnel into dead wood, fungi make their way inside, helping to break it down and recycle nutrients. If the beetles’ habitat is disturbed or destroyed, the effects ripple across the entire ecosystem. Nikon D7100 + Tokina 10–17mm f3.5–4.5 fisheye lens at 17mm; 1/80 at f8; ISO 400; Godox TT350 off-camera flash and diffuser
