An award-winning photograph of a rare brown hyena in a Namibian ghost town has captured the top prize at the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, highlighting the elusive species’ resilience in human-abandoned landscapes. South African photographer Wim van den Heever’s image, titled ‘Ghost Town Visitor,’ shows the world’s rarest hyena standing before a dilapidated building in Kolmanskop, an abandoned diamond mining settlement.
Van den Heever dedicated nearly a decade to capturing this shot, having first discovered hyena tracks in the area years ago. He employed camera traps, strategically placed to anticipate the animal’s nocturnal movements through the sand-filled streets. The challenging conditions of the Namib Desert, with shifting sands and dense fog, often thwarted his efforts, damaging equipment and obscuring views. After years of persistence, he finally captured the hyena in a perfectly composed frame, describing the moment as emotionally overwhelming.
The brown hyena, with an estimated global population between 4,000 and 10,000, is classified as near threatened but maintains stable numbers in southern Africa. These solitary, nocturnal creatures are known for their shaggy coats and quiet nature, unlike their more vocal spotted cousins. They primarily scavenge and hunt seal pups along the coast, playing a key role in nutrient cycling. Their elusive behavior makes them difficult to study, but researchers note they are more widespread than often assumed.
Kolmanskop and similar ghost towns provide essential shelter for brown hyenas, offering protection from the harsh desert environment. Researchers have documented hyenas using abandoned structures for dens, with one recently giving birth in a basement pipe. This opportunistic behavior demonstrates their ability to thrive in post-human landscapes, utilizing old buildings for respite from the treeless, exposed terrain. The towns, part of a national park, represent a relatively pristine area where hyenas can roam with minimal human interference.
Ecologically, brown hyenas are vital scavengers, removing carcasses and reducing disease spread in the ecosystem. They transport marine nutrients inland, enriching the nutrient-poor Namib Desert. However, they face threats from roadkill, human conflict, and habitat fragmentation, underscoring the need for conservation awareness. Farmers sometimes view them as pests, but experts emphasize their importance in maintaining ecological balance.
The photograph has been praised for its eerie beauty and its message about human-wildlife coexistence. Jury chair Kathy Moran described it as evoking a ‘prickly feeling,’ emphasizing that the hyena now dominates this once-human space. Such imagery can shift public perception of hyenas, often misunderstood as ugly or nuisance animals, towards appreciation of their ecological roles. Zoologists hope such photos bridge gaps in understanding biodiversity decline.
Van den Heever’s persistence paid off, but he remains inspired to continue capturing the hyena’s story. His work, and that of other photographers, helps foster a deeper connection to nature and its conservation. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, with a record number of entries, underscores global interest in using photography to advocate for wildlife and environmental stewardship.