Featuring an ancient horseshoe crab, fighting ibex and a forest lit by fireflies’ glow, the winners of the 59th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest reveal breathtaking scenes of animals and their fascinating behaviors.
The prestigious competition, developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, unveiled its winners this week. This year, its international panel of judges selected the winners from a pool of 49,957 entries that spanned 95 countries.
Each winning image has been deemed well-composed and ethically obtained, but this collection of shots also calls attention to conservation issues facing species today.
“Whilst inspiring absolute awe and wonder, this year’s winning images present compelling evidence of our impact on nature—both positive and negative,” Doug Gurr, the museum’s director, says in a statement. “Global promises must shift to action to turn the tide on nature’s decline.”
The photographs that earned recognition in the contest will go on view at the museum from October 13 to June 30, 2024, and the exhibition will tour across the United Kingdom and other countries.
