The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition has announced its winners, with Wim van den Heever’s striking image of a brown hyena in Namibia earning the grand title. Organized by the Natural History Museum, this prestigious event celebrates exceptional wildlife photography that highlights both the beauty and fragility of the natural world, with an exhibition set to open in London.
Wim van den Heever’s winning photograph was captured in the abandoned diamond mining settlement of Kolmanskop, Namibia, where he used a camera trap after spotting fresh hyena tracks. It took him ten years to achieve this shot, as brown hyenas are rare, nocturnal, and solitary, making them exceptionally difficult to photograph. Van den Heever described the long pursuit, often doubting he would ever succeed despite knowing the animals were present. His perseverance was rewarded with the top honor at a ceremony held at the Natural History Museum, underscoring the dedication required in wildlife photography.
In the junior categories, Andrea Dominizi from Italy won the Grand Prize for the 15- to 17-year-old group with his image ‘After the Destruction,’ depicting a beetle on a cut log in the Lepini Mountains. The photo symbolizes habitat loss, as the beetle relies on trees for laying eggs, and Dominizi aimed to raise awareness about environmental degradation. Other young winners included Jamie Smart from the UK, who took the ’10 Years and Under’ category with a spider in its web, hoping to change perceptions about often-feared creatures through her art.
Notable category winners spanned diverse themes and locations. Shane Gross from Canada secured the ‘Animals in their Environment’ award for his photo of peppered moray eels scavenging in the Seychelles, captured after weeks of patience in harsh conditions. Sebastian Frölich from Germany won ‘Wetlands: The Bigger Picture’ for documenting a vanishing pond in Austria, emphasizing the importance of peat bogs as carbon sinks amid widespread loss. Ralph Pace from the USA claimed the ‘Underwater’ category with an image of a swell shark egg case, highlighting the dramatic decline of kelp forests in Monterey Bay.
The competition also featured winners addressing critical conservation issues. Jon A. Juárez from Spain won in photojournalism for his coverage of rhino IVF efforts in Kenya, which achieved a milestone despite setbacks, offering hope for saving endangered species. Fernando Faciole from Brazil received the Impact Award for ‘Orphan of the Road,’ showing an orphaned giant anteater pup in a rehabilitation center to illustrate the threats of road collisions. These entries underscore the role of photography in advocating for wildlife protection and environmental stewardship.
The annual exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London opens on October 17, 2025, showcasing 100 standout photographs from the competition. This event, running for over six decades, provides a global platform for photographers to share stories that inspire public engagement with nature. It attracts visitors from around the world, fostering appreciation for biodiversity and the challenges it faces due to human activities and climate change.
Overall, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition not only honors artistic excellence but also serves as a powerful tool for education and advocacy. By bringing attention to urgent environmental issues, it encourages viewers to reflect on their connection to the natural world and support conservation efforts. As the exhibition tours internationally, it continues to amplify these messages, promoting a collective responsibility to protect Earth’s wildlife for future generations.