17 images capturing the brutality and beauty of nature
The 2025 Nature inFocus Photography Awards have showcased breathtaking wildlife imagery from around the globe, highlighting both the beauty and the harsh realities of nature. This year, photographers from 38 countries submitted nearly 16,000 stunning images across eight categories, including Animal Portraits, Animal Behaviour, and Conservation Photography. The diverse collection of photographs not only captivates the viewer but also serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent conservation challenges facing our planet. Rohit Varma, co-founder of Nature inFocus, emphasized the growing global participation, stating that the submissions reveal fresh perspectives on the natural world and highlight pressing environmental issues.
Among the standout winners is “The Canopy Watcher” by Federica Cordero, which captures a young male chimpanzee lounging in the forests of Uganda, embodying the playful yet contemplative spirit of these intelligent primates. In contrast, Amit Eshel’s haunting image “Ancient Rivals” depicts an Arctic wolf stalking a musk ox herd as they form a defensive circle around their young. This stark portrayal of survival illustrates the brutal realities of the animal kingdom, where instinct and danger intertwine. The awards also celebrate the delicate balance between urban development and wildlife, as seen in Sarthak Agrawal’s “Urban Oasis,” which features flamingos feeding in Ras Al Khor, Dubai, a sanctuary that thrives amidst the city’s rapid expansion.
Other notable entries include “Race to the Forest” by Danuja Palihawadana Arachchi, showcasing a female elephant navigating man-made barriers in Sri Lanka, and “Edge of Two Worlds” by Rajat Chordia and Vidhan Dwivedi, where a young leopard is seen feeding near a cow carcass amidst a backdrop of urban chaos in Udaipur, Rajasthan. These images not only highlight the adaptability of wildlife in changing environments but also serve as a call to action for conservation efforts. The Nature inFocus Photography Awards continue to be a vital platform for raising awareness about the intricate relationships between humans and wildlife, urging viewers to appreciate and protect the natural world that surrounds us.
A herd of musk ox protect their young from a hungry arctic wolf, a flock of flamingoes chill near Dubai’s imposing skyline, and a flying squirrel pops out for a quick hello. These are just a few of the stunning
wildlife
scenes captured in the
2025 Nature inFocus Photography Awards
.
“
The Canopy Watcher” by Federica Cordero
Winner, Animal Portraits
In the forests of Uganda, a young male chimpanzee lounges effortlessly on a twisted vine, pausing to observe the world below.
Location: Uganda
This year, photographers from 38 countries submitted nearly 16,000 images. The judges awarded prizes across eight categories: Animal Portraits, Animal Behaviour, Conservation
Photography
, Creative Nature Photography, Wildscape & Animals in Their Habitat, Portfolio, Coexistence, and Young Photographer (under 17 years of age).
“Every year, the submissions reveal fresh perspectives on the natural world and shed light on urgent conservation challenges,” Rohit Varma, co-founder of Nature inFocus, said in a statement. “The growing number of participants and the expanding geographical reach reflect just how global this platform has become.”
“
Race to the Forest” by Danuja Palihawadana Arachchi
Runner-up, Young Photographer
In Sri Lanka’s dry zone, a female elephant leaps over an electric fence as her herd follows, hurrying back to the forest at dawn after raiding nearby paddy fields. The scene highlights how shrinking habitats push elephants to navigate man-made barriers in their search for food.
Location
:
Thammanawa Wewa, Sri Lanka DANUJA PALIHAWADANA
“
Ancient Rivals” by Amit Eshel
Winner, Animal Behaviour
An Arctic Wolf shows signs of a recent hunt as a muskox herd forms a defensive circle, horns facing out to guard their calves. But chaos followed when the pack seized a few young ones and tore them apart for a small meal before moving on.
Location: Ellesmere Island, Canada
“
The Curious Six” by Amit Eshel
Runner-up, Animal Portraits
On the windswept steppes of Mongolia, six young Pallas’s cats emerge from their rocky shelter. Still dependent on their mother’s care, these eight-week-old kittens explore their surroundings with caution and wonder, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of this elusive species.
Location: Eastern Steppe, Mongolia
“
Urban Oasis” by Sarthak Agrawal
Winner, Coexistence
At Ras Al Khor, flamingos feed peacefully against Dubai’s towering skyline. This urban wetland, which hosts over 25,000 migratory birds each winter, thrives amid rapid development—filtering water, storing carbon, and sustaining life even as the city expands around it.
Location
:
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Dubai SARTHAK AGRAWAL
“
Edge of Two Worlds” by Rajat Chordia and Vidhan Dwivedi
Winner, Ramki Sreenivasan Conservation Photography Award
A young leopard feeds on a cow carcass beside garbage and fast-moving traffic—an unsettling reminder of how closely these adaptable cats now live alongside human settlements.
Location
:
Udaipur, Rajasthan
“
The Queen’s Harem” by Gokul D
Special Mention, Animal Behaviour
The photograph captured several males surrounding a female Western Ghats tree frog in a rare polyandrous ritual. In this form of mating, one female mates with multiple males, thereby increasing the odds of her eggs being fertilised.
Location: Coorg, India
“
The Rarest of the Rare” by Sergey Gorshkov
Special Mention, Wildscape & Animals in Habitat
In Russia’s Land of the Leopard National Park, one of the world’s rarest big cats moves quietly through its forest home. The photographer recalls that the Amur leopard appeared for only a moment before slipping back into the dense cover of the trees.
Location
:
Land of the Leopard National Park, Russia
“
After the Hunt” by Sergey Gorshkov
Special Mention, Animal Behaviour
On Wrangel Island, a polar bear pauses after a successful hunt, a trail of blood marking its path across the snow.
Location: Wrangel Island, Russia
“
The Night Glider” by Philippe Ricordel
Special Mention, Animal Portraits
Monmongas, or flying squirrels, live in Hokkaido, Japan. Though not uncommon, photographing them is difficult. They are small, fast, and nocturnal, active mostly at dawn or dusk. During mating season, this one finally peeked out of its nest, 5 metres high, long enough for a single photo.
Location: Japan, Hokkaido, Obihiro
“
Next-door Neighbour” by Pruthvi B
Special Mention, Coexistence
Adaptable and elusive, leopards have long lived alongside people in many parts of India. As towns grow and natural habitats shrink, these encounters have become increasingly common. This moment—of a leopard slipping past an open doorway—captures the fragile relationship between people and wildlife in fast-changing landscapes.
Location: Mysore, Karnataka
“
When Torchlight Meets Tusks” by Ramprasad Dutta
Special Mention, Ramki Sreenivasan Conservation Photography Award
In Kaladai, elephants wade toward the river as villagers flash torchlight and burst firecrackers to deter them. The moment captures a shared river—one both people and elephants depend on—where needs overlap and tensions rise.
Location: Bishnupur, West Bengal
“
Backlit Surprise” by Sarthak Agrawal
Special Mention, Creative Nature Photography
A grey heron lifts into the air, backlit by the afternoon sun. Startled by a passing fisherman, it circles above the lake, offering the photographer an unexpected view as it poops mid-flight. The moment is a playful reminder of the surprising patterns nature creates.
Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra SARTHAK AGRAWAL
“
A Tale of Two Trunks” by Rohan Shah
Special Mention, Young Photographer
In the Maasai Mara, two elephants intertwine their trunks in a gentle moment of play. The black-and-white frame accentuates the texture of their skin and the quiet connection shared between them.
Location
:
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya ROHAN SHAH
“
In the Ruins” by Sergey Bystritsky
Special Mention, Wildscape & Animals in Habitat
On an abandoned Soviet airfield now used for grain storage, rodents thrive—and with them, barn owls. New nest boxes installed through a conservation effort have allowed the owls to settle and breed. Under the pale morning moon, an owl stands watch as a horseshoe bat crosses the quiet sky.
Location
:
Shiraki Military Airfield, Kakheti, Georgia
“
Catch of the Day” by Kashyap Naresh Raval
Runner-up, Animal Behaviour
A fishing spider rests at the edge of a waterbody, holding its freshly caught fish. The moment captures how aptly it is named and how remarkable nature’s hunters can be.
Location: Kollur, Karnataka
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17 images capturing the brutality and beauty of nature
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