South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever has been crowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for his remarkable image titled "Ghost Town Visitor." The winning photograph captures a brown hyena wandering through the haunting remains of Kolmanskop, a long-abandoned diamond mining town in Namibia. Van den Heever's image also secured him victory in the Urban Wildlife category, demonstrating the extraordinary dedication required for wildlife photography.
The award-winning shot represents a decade-long journey of patience and determination. Brown hyenas are nocturnal, largely solitary creatures that are quite rare, making them extremely challenging subjects to photograph. According to competition organizers, van den Heever first noticed brown hyena tracks at the abandoned site and spent ten years using camera trap technology before successfully capturing this single, powerful image. The photograph serves as a testament to the photographer's unwavering commitment to his craft.
The prestigious competition, now in its 61st year, received more than 60,000 entries from photographers worldwide, making it the largest nature photography contest globally. Developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, the competition showcases the world's finest nature photography and wildlife photojournalism from participants of all ages, nationalities, and experience levels. The contest aims to celebrate and exhibit exceptional wildlife imagery while raising awareness about the natural world.
The Animals in their Environment category was won by Canadian photographer Shane Gross for his image "Like an Eel out of Water," which depicts a peppered moray eel hunting for carrion during low tide. In the Animal Portraits category, Italian photographer Philipp Egger claimed victory with "Shadow Hunter," showcasing the mesmerizing orange glint in an eagle owl's eyes as evening light illuminates its feathers.
Bird behavior was brilliantly captured by Chinese photographer Qingrong Yang in "Synchronized Fishing," showing a ladyfish snatching prey from directly beneath a little egret's beak. American photographer Dennis Stogsdill won the Mammal Behavior category with "Cat Amongst the Flamingos," documenting a caracal hunting a lesser flamingo in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. The Amphibians and Reptiles Behavior category went to French photographer Quentin Martinez for "Frolicking Frogs," capturing a gathering of lesser tree frogs during a breeding event.
Australian photographer Georgina Steytler earned recognition in the Invertebrate Behavior category with "Mad Hatterpillar," highlighting the peculiar headgear of a gum-leaf skeletonizer caterpillar. Norwegian photographer Audun Rickardsen won the Oceans: The Bigger Picture category with "The Feast," showing feeding activity near an Atlantic fishing vessel during a polar night in northern Norway.
The Plants and Fungi category was claimed by Malaysian photographer Chien Lee with "Deadly Allure," revealing the fluorescent world of an insect-attracting pitcher plant exposed using UV lighting. German photographer Simone Baumeister captured the Natural Artistry award with "Caught in the Headlights," featuring an orb weaver spider silhouetted on its web by car lights below a pedestrian bridge. American photographer Ralph Pace won the Underwater category with "Survival Purse," beautifully illuminating a swell shark's egg case attached to giant kelp.
In the Wetlands: The Bigger Picture category, German photographer Sebastian Frölich triumphed with "Vanishing Pond," showing a springtail among glowing green gas bubbles in Austrian moorlands. The Photojournalism category recognized Spanish photographer Jon A. Juárez for "How to Save a Species," documenting efforts to save northern white rhinos from extinction through in vitro fertilization. Fellow Spanish photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda received the Photojournalist Story Award for "End of the Round-Up," capturing venom extraction from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
Several special awards highlighted emerging talent and impactful storytelling. Brazilian photographer Fernando Faciole won the Impact Award with "Orphan of the Road," showing an orphaned giant anteater pup following its caregiver after an evening feeding. German photographer Luca Lorenz earned the Rising Star Award for "Watchful Moments," featuring a coypu that unexpectedly appeared while photographing swans. The Portfolio Award went to Alexey Kharitonov from Israel/Russia for "Visions of the North," showcasing a small lake surrounded by trees and grassy terrain.
Young photographers also received significant recognition across age categories. In the 10 Years and Under division, UK photographer Jamie Smart won with "The Weaver's Lair," capturing an orb weaver spider in its silken retreat on a cold September morning. French photographer Lubin Godin, aged 11-14, claimed victory with "Alpine Dawn," showing an alpine ibex resting above a sea of clouds. Italian photographer Andrea Dominizi, representing the 15-17 years category, was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for "After the Destruction," featuring a longhorn beetle near abandoned machinery in central Italy's Lepini Mountains.
These award-winning images represent the pinnacle of wildlife photography, combining technical excellence with profound artistic vision. The competition continues to inspire photographers worldwide while fostering greater appreciation for the natural world and the urgent need for its conservation. Each photograph tells a unique story about wildlife behavior, environmental challenges, and the extraordinary beauty found in nature's most intimate moments.
