Finalists Revealed for the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
**“Deadly Lessons” Captures A Crucial Moment in Cheetah Development**
In Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve, Spanish wildlife photographer Marina Cano seized a compelling moment that explores the natural world and the life lessons imparted to young cheetahs. Her stunning image, aptly named “Deadly Lessons” and highly praised in the Behaviour: Mammals category, highlights a significant event in a cheetah’s path to independence.
Marina Cano’s photograph exhibits an essential phase in the lives of three young cheetahs as they refine their hunting abilities. The image presents them engaging with their prey, a Günther’s dik-dik, under their mother’s vigilant gaze. It’s an impactful scene illustrating not merely survival, but the transfer of vital life skills from one generation to the next in the relentless teaching of the wild.
This moment is crucial because, although cheetah cubs spend their early months protected in a den, following their mother on hunts and learning through observation is vital as they approach independence around the age of one. Marina Cano’s photograph captures a fleeting moment just before the unavoidable demise of the dik-dik, embodying both the elegance and harshness of life in the wild.
Captured with a Canon EOS R3 using a 600mm f4 lens at 1/1250, f8, and an ISO of 6400, this striking image conveys the intensity of predator-prey interactions that are imperative for a young cheetah’s survival and future success as a solitary hunter.
The image is included in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, a prestigious annual event organized by the Natural History Museum in London, now in its 61st year. The contest highlights the extraordinary stories of wildlife photography and acknowledges works of significant impact, remaining committed to its mission of promoting natural heritage through the perspectives of talented photographers globally.
Cano’s work, along with that of other finalists, will be showcased at the Natural History Museum in London, encouraging visitors to engage with narratives of the natural world that reflect broader environmental concerns and the interconnectedness of humans and wildlife. The conclusion of the contest will be marked by the announcement of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year on October 14, 2025, honoring those who persist in enlightening and inspiring through their visuals.
Wildlife photography serves as a reminder of the beauty, fragility, and intricacy of life on Earth, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complex dance of survival and adaptation observed daily across our planet.