“Mother Tiger Educating Cub on Combat Clinches Nature’s Top Photography Awards”
**2024 Nature’s Best Photography International Awards: Honoring Nature’s Wonders and Challenges**
For years, nature photography has served as a powerful medium through which we engage with the wildlife, landscapes, and ecosystems surrounding us. In an ever-urbanizing environment, visual representations of nature can amplify awareness of environmental challenges and highlight the importance of conservation efforts. The annual **Nature’s Best Photography International Awards**—one of the most esteemed competitions in nature photography—aims to showcase the beauty, variety, and delicateness of the natural realm.
This year, more than 25,000 photographs were submitted by photographers from 62 nations, all competing for recognition of their storytelling talent through visuals. Ranging from stunning landscapes to close-up wildlife interactions, these images go beyond mere aesthetics, conveying narratives of survival, fragility, and the human bond with the natural world. Below, we delve into some of the extraordinary winners that exemplify the spirit of this year’s contest.
### **Grand Prize Winner: The Bengal Tigers of India’s Wilderness**
The **Grand Prize** for 2024 was awarded to **Mangesh Ratnakar Desai** for his striking image taken at the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, India. His photograph captures a touching moment between a mother Bengal tiger and her young cub, captured in a lesson on survival in the wild. Desai notes, *“Throughout the years, I have observed this young male tiger gain confidence and establish dominance over his siblings. His journey to adulthood begins with the challenge of learning to define and protect his territory.”*
What may initially appear as a fierce struggle among tigers in the water, on closer inspection, reveals a mother instructing her cub in vital survival techniques. Desai’s remarkable timing—seizing the splash of water mid-action with impeccable shutter speed—captures the elegance and strength of the tigers. Most importantly, the image highlights the endangered status of the Bengal tiger, serving as a reminder of the pressing need to safeguard their diminishing numbers.
### **Conservation Story Winner: The Struggles of Monarch Butterflies**
Spanish photographer **Jaime Rojo** was awarded the **Conservation Story** accolade for his engaging depiction of monarch butterflies during their significant annual migration. His photographic series, spanning **Mexico, the USA, and Canada**, showcases the sheer beauty of the monarchs while highlighting the increasing dangers they confront.
Rojo’s winning photograph, taken in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, portrays a lone monarch unfurling its wings as it readies to rest for the evening, nestled among thousands of others for warmth and safety. The butterflies’ extensive trek to winter in Mexico’s oyamel fir forests reflects the vulnerability of their existence, particularly in light of habitat destruction and climate change. The Conservation Story category underscores the necessity of environmental protection, and Rojo’s work continues to promote awareness regarding the importance of preserving both the butterflies and their migration routes.
### **Polar Passion: Underwater Beauty with Beluga Whales**
In the **Polar Passion** category, **Brett Frelich** captivated the judges with his breathtaking photograph of beluga whales in Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada. Taken while Frelich balanced on a foam raft tethered to a boat, the image showcases a group of belugas swimming in harmony, with one whale seemingly acknowledging the camera.
Known for their ethereal white color, beluga whales migrate to Hudson Bay every year to feed and give birth. Frelich’s photograph, which invokes both tranquility and awe, highlights these creatures’ playful and social characteristics. In light of the swift decline of marine life due to pollution and industrial activities, this image acts as a pertinent reminder of the necessity for enhanced conservation efforts in the Arctic regions.
### **Art in Nature: “The Eye of a Frozen Lake” in Tibet**
In the **Art in Nature** category, **Lei Li** captured an incredible aerial perspective of a frozen lake in **Baingoin County, Tibet**. Taken from approximately three miles above the lake’s surface using a drone, the image unveils a symmetrical, otherworldly design naturally crafted through the freezing process. Observing the lake from such an elevated viewpoint demonstrates how nature intricately creates art in the most unexpected forms.
Such images shift our views on the natural world, showcasing how even abstract shapes and peaceful vistas can leave a lasting impression on the audience. Tibet’s distinct environment, characterized by its expansive lakes and towering mountains, offers exceptional yet often concealed natural allure.
### **Ocean Views: A Dolphin Superpod off Costa Rica**
Photographer **Cécile Gabillon** secured top honors in the **Ocean Views** category for her mesmerizing image of a **superpod of spinner dolphins** hunting lanternfish off the coast of Quepos, Costa Rica. As Gabillon immersed herself in the Pacific waters, she was enveloped by an enormous congregation of dolphins, an extraordinary and awe-inspiring encounter. Her