This year marks the 60th anniversary of the prestigious annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. In anticipation of this amazing achievement, the Natural History Museum London has released an astonishing number of highly acclaimed entries for this year’s competition.
These are the images that were spectacular but didn’t make it to the final shortlist.
With astonishing images ranging from a stoat leaping for joy to a tender moment between two young owls, these first images whet our appetites for the winners of this year’s competition, which will be announced on October 8, 2024 by BBC wildlife presenters and conservationists Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London, where the latest exhibition, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, opens on October 11, 2024.
In the spotlight – Invertebrate Behavior category
A group of male Dawson’s digger bees (Amegilla dawson) ambush a female emerging from a nest. Females are often harassed by males in a wild mating frenzy like this one. Females have been known to be killed in such mating frenzy. Photographed in Carnarvon, Western Australia. Photo by Georgina Steytler /WPOTY60
The disappearing ice cap – Category Oceans
A panorama of 26 individual images shows a spectacular summer view of meltwater cascading over the edge of the Bråsvellbreen glacier. The Bråsvellbreen glacier is part of Austfonna, the third largest ice cap in Europe. Photo by Thomas Vijayan/WPOTY60
Leaving the nest – category 10 years and younger
A pair of tawny owls photographed in Munich, Germany. Tawny owls leave the nest before they can fly, in a phase called “branching.” They hop, flutter, and climb around on branches of nearby trees for several weeks while begging their parents for food before finally fledging and flying away. Photo by Sasha Jumanca/WPOTY60
Strong together – Category Animals in their habitat
This image shows mussels binding themselves together to avoid being washed away from the shore. Photographed on the shores of Praia da Ursa, Sintra, Portugal. Photo by Theo Bosboom/WPOTY60
Precious Rocks – Bird Behavior Category
A jackdaw (C. monedula) with stones in its mouth, ready to put them in a nest it is building in Bushy Park in London, UK. Jackdaws are highly intelligent and adaptable. They build new nests every year out of all kinds of materials: twigs, branches, feathers, wool, moss, mud and animal dung. Photo by Samual Stone/WPOTY60
Fatal Bite – Mammal Behavior Category
This image shows the moment a jaguar (Panthera onca) fatally bites a caiman in the Pantanal wetland in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Photo by Ian Ford/WPOTY60
Turning and jumping – Category Mammalian behavior
A stoat leaps high into the air in Athose, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. Scientists refer to this behavior as dancing, although opinions are divided on the motivation, ranging from an attempt to confuse prey to a parasitic infection. Photo by Jose Manuel Grandío/WPOTY60
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Ziggy Spider – Invertebrate Behavior Category
Heteropoda davidbowie is a giant crab spider found in Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was named by arachnologist and Bowie fan Dr. Peter Jaeger, who thought the spider’s distinctive markings, extending to the head region, resembled the late singer’s makeup. Photo by Lam Soon Tak/WPOTY60
Moonlight Hunter – Mammal Behavior Category
A manul stands over its prey on the icy plateau of Hulun Buir in Inner Mongolia, China. Manul’s thick winter fur helps them survive at altitudes of up to 5,000 meters. They evade larger predators through stealth, and their low-set, rounded ears are thought to allow them to peer over obstacles while remaining hidden. Photo by Xingchao Zhu/WPOTY60
Out and about with the plaice – animals in their habitat Category
A pair of crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga) take a nap in the sea ice of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. There are about four million crabeater seals in Antarctica. Photo by Tamara Stubbs/WPOTY60
Hooked – Category Oceans
A requiem shark (Carcharhinidae) is caught as bycatch from a fishing boat in international waters, the South Atlantic. Every year, around 80 million sharks are stolen from the world’s oceans. Photo by Tommy Trenchard/WPOTY60
Stormy Scene – Mammal Behavior Category
A pair of lions mating in the Serengeti National Park was photographed against a backdrop of dramatic storm clouds. Insects and saliva can be seen in the male lion’s mane. Photo by William Fortescue/WPOTY60
The final resting place – Category Natural Art
This deer took its last breath and passed away gently in the cold winter of Lassen County, California, USA. The image seems to capture the beauty of this animal and adds a tranquil element to a subject that is often considered taboo. Photo by Randy Robbins/WPOTY60
In the spotlight – category 10 years and under
Two Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) photographed in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. Peacocks are resident here all year round and roost in large trees. They rest in the shade during the day and are more active in open areas at dawn and dusk. Photo by Shreyovi Mehta/WPOTY60
