Global Wildlife Photography Competition Celebrates Nature's Wonders

A stunning photograph of a damsel fly peering out from a leaf has claimed the top award in a prestigious wildlife photography competition hosted by BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology. The contest, which invites contributions from researchers in various fields including ecology and zoology, showcased a diverse array of breathtaking images capturing the beauty and struggles of wildlife across the globe.

This year’s winner, Sritam Kumar Sethy, a student from Berhampur University in India, earned accolades for his captivating shot of an orange-tailed marsh dart damsel fly (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum) in the lush wetlands of Odisha. The competition also recognized other notable images, including a heartwarming scene of Florida manatees drinking fresh water in the Everglades, captured by Brandon Güell, which received significant praise.

In the Relationship category, marine biologist Victor Huertas Martin from James Cook University showcased a dramatic moment between two giant cuttlefish (Ascarosepion apama) during their annual mating season in Spencer Gulf, South Australia. Dr. Huertas revealed that the cuttlefish, while known for their shyness, were completely unbothered by his presence as they focused solely on courtship. However, he expressed concern over the current state of their population, which appears to be declining due to algal blooms affecting their breeding grounds.

Another highlight from the competition included a runner-up image by Alwin Hardenbol, a postdoctoral researcher in Finland, who captured a tense encounter between a pair of noisy friarbirds and a brown goshawk in Australia’s Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary. Hardenbol, who was visiting the sanctuary as a tourist, described the moment as a serendipitous snapshot of nature’s fierce dynamics.

The Protecting Our Planet category featured a striking drone photograph by Allen Tian, which depicted a road linking islands along the St. Lawrence Seaway, now transformed into a bird sanctuary. The runner-up in this category was a touching image of local conservationists aiding olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings on India's west coast. The overall runner-up was a poignant depiction of students in Portland, Oregon, attaching a radio transmitter to a northern red-legged frog (Rana aurora) as part of their research efforts.

In the Research In Action category, a captivating night scene portrayed undergraduate students sampling coastal waters in New Brunswick, Canada. Additionally, Luke Jeffrey, a research fellow, was acknowledged for a selfie taken while monitoring microbial communities in a Northern Territory wetland. The competition also recognized Vineet Kumar’s image of researchers in a Himalayan cave, emphasizing the importance of studying endangered species in their natural habitats.

Source: www.abc.net.au