Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)–An image of polar bears roaming an abandoned house, and another showing the last moments of a beloved mountain gorilla’s life, have become among the winning images in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
The American Karen Aigner won the competition in 2022, thanks to her photo, titled “The big buzz”.
The extraordinary scene shows a group of cactus bees intending to mate with a single female, against a backdrop of scorching sand on a Texas farm.
Speaking about the photo, chair of the jury, Rose Kidman Cox, said in a press release issued Tuesday: “The sense of movement and vitality is demonstrated at an angle close to the plane of the bees.”
The close-up turns this young bee into a great competitor for a single female, according to what I mentioned.
The statement added that Aigner’s close-up shows the desperation of these degraded organisms, which are threatened by climate change, pesticides, and habitat loss.
Organizers said Aigner was the fifth woman to win the grand prize in the 58-year history of the competition.
Natural History Museum director Doug Goure praised the photographers for providing “unforgettable glimpses of the lives of wild species, sharing hidden details and surprising behaviors, and reporting on climate crises and biodiversity on the front lines.”
Winners were chosen in 19 different categories, including 3 prizes for the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
16-year-old Thai Kattanyu and Techhattanakorn took home the top prize in this category thanks to a photo of a Breedy whale with its dark skin, pink gums and coarse baleen sheets.
The photo is called “The beauty of baleen”.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has been developed and developed by the Natural History Museum in London, and the images will be presented to the public during the month of October.