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London (CNN) – A magical underwater image of western toad tadpoles has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 competition.
The winning image, “The Swarm of Life” by Canadian photojournalist Shane Gross, was chosen from a record 59,228 entries, according to a statement from organizers released Tuesday.
“Shane captured the image while diving for several hours through lily mats in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, making sure not to disturb the thin layers of sediment and algae that cover the bottom of the lake,” the researchers said. organizers.
“A near-threatened species due to habitat destruction and predators, these tadpoles begin their transition into toads between four and twelve weeks after hatching, but it is estimated that 99% of them will not survive to adulthood.”
Jury president Kathy Moran, former deputy director of photography at National Geographic magazine, said the judges were “captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles.”
The 2024 Youth Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas for “Life Under Dead Wood,” a close-up composite image of 36 photographs of slime mold and a springtail, a type of small arthropod.
“A photographer attempting to capture this moment brings not only great skill, but incredible attention to detail, patience and perseverance,” Moran said in the statement. “Seeing a macro image of two species photographed on the forest floor, with such skill, is exceptional.”
These two grand title winners were chosen from 18 category winners, which included photos of a hawk eating a squirrel, a lynx stretching in the sun, and a hawk catching a butterfly.
“We are delighted to feature such inspiring images in this year’s portfolio; These are photographs that not only encourage more wildlife conservation efforts, but also inspire the creation of true defenders of our planet on a global scale,” said Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in London, which organizes the contest , in the statement.
An exhibition of 100 award-winning images will open its doors at the museum this Friday.
Below are other award-winning photos: