South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever has been named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for his extraordinary image of a brown hyena standing among the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement. The winning photograph was captured in the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia, after a decade-long quest that tested the photographer's patience and persistence.
Van den Heever's journey to capture this remarkable shot began when he first spotted fresh hyena tracks in the deserted town. The brown hyena, recognized as the rarest of all hyena species, presents unique challenges for wildlife photographers due to its primarily nocturnal behavior and solitary lifestyle. For years, the photographer searched the abandoned settlement, finding only traces of the elusive animal without ever managing to photograph one. "I knew they were there, but actually photographing one was just never going to happen," van den Heever recalled thinking during his long pursuit.
The photographer's breakthrough came through the strategic use of a camera trap, which he set up after discovering the fresh tracks. His persistence paid off after ten years of attempts, resulting in the stunning image that earned him the prestigious title. The award ceremony took place at London's Natural History Museum, where the annual exhibition dedicated to the competition will open on October 17.
The competition attracted entries across multiple categories, with young photographers making remarkable contributions. Andrea Dominizi from Italy claimed both the Junior Grand Prize and the 15- to 17-year-old category winner with his photograph titled "After the Destruction." Captured in the Lepini Mountains of central Italy's Lazio region, the image shows a beetle resting on a cut log beside abandoned logging machinery in an area once rich with old-growth beech trees. "This photo shows the story and challenge faced by many animal species: habitat loss," Dominizi explained. "In this case, it's a beetle that loses the tree and the wood it needs to lay its eggs."
Canadian photographer Shane Gross, last year's winner, secured the Animals in their Environment category with "Like an Eel out of Water," photographed at D'Arros Island in the Seychelles. After weeks of patient waiting, Gross captured peppered moray eels scavenging for carrion at low tide, enduring hours of sun, heat, and flies while waiting where dead fish had washed up. His persistence was rewarded when three eels eventually appeared.
In the youngest category, 10 Years and Under, UK photographer Jamie Smart won with "The Weaver's Lair," featuring an orb-weaver spider curled up inside its silken hideaway during a cold September morning in Mid-Wales. Smart expressed particular satisfaction with the image, saying, "It's also quite special for me because I get to show something that people are usually afraid of."
Environmental conservation themes featured prominently throughout the competition. German photographer Sebastian Frölich's "Vanishing Pond" in the Wetlands category highlighted Austria's Platzertal moorlands, a fragile wetland ecosystem that serves as both a carbon sink and habitat for diverse wildlife. The image takes on added significance given that Austria has lost 90% of its peat bogs. French photographer Lubin Godin captured "Alpine Dawn" at Col de la Colombière, showing an Alpine ibex resting above a sea of clouds during an early morning ascent.
The underwater category showcased the technical challenges faced by marine photographers. Ralph Pace from the United States battled strong currents in California's Monterey Bay to capture "Survival Purse," revealing a glowing swell shark embryo complete with gill slits and yolk sac inside its egg case. The image carries environmental significance as swell sharks depend on kelp forests for laying their leathery eggs, making them vulnerable to habitat loss. Researchers believe Monterey Bay's kelp has declined by more than 95% over the past 34 years.
Behavioral photography was well represented across multiple categories. Italian photographer Philipp Egger spent more than four years observing an eagle owl's nest from a distance to capture "Shadow Hunter" in the Animal Portraits category. Eagle owls, among the world's largest owl species and about twice the weight of buzzards, are nocturnal hunters that nest on cliffs or in crevices and often return to the same site for many years.
Chinese photographer Qingrong Yang documented the precise timing of nature in "Synchronised Fishing," capturing the moment a ladyfish snatched prey just beneath a little egret's beak at Yundang Lake in Fujian Province. Yang regularly visits the lake to document these frenzied feeding moments. In Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, American photographer Dennis Stogsdill captured the rare sight of a caracal among flamingos at Ndutu Lake, showcasing the big cat's acrobatic hunting abilities.
The competition's photojournalism categories highlighted critical conservation efforts and challenges. Spanish photographer Jon A. Juárez documented the groundbreaking BioRescue Project in Kenya with "How to Save a Species," witnessing the first successful transfer of a rhino embryo to a surrogate mother at Ol Pejeta. Although the southern white rhino fetus pictured did not survive due to infection, this milestone proved that IVF could work for rhinos, bringing scientists closer to saving the critically endangered northern white rhino.
Javier Aznar González de Rueda, also from Spain, explored America's complex relationship with rattlesnakes in his winning Photojournalist Story portfolio "End of the Round-up," examining society's conflicted views ranging from deep respect to fear and persecution. Brazilian photographer Fernando Faciole earned recognition in the Impact Award category with "Orphan of the Road," showing an orphaned giant anteater pup following its caregiver at a rehabilitation center in Belo Horizonte, highlighting the consequences of road collisions that pose major threats to these animals.
The technical artistry of nature photography was celebrated in several specialized categories. Australian photographer Georgina Steytler showcased the bizarre defensive strategy of the gum-leaf skeletonizer caterpillar in "Mad Hatterpillar," captured at Torndirrup National Park in Western Australia. The image reveals the caterpillar's strange tower of discarded head capsules, with each molt leaving behind a capsule that forms a stack thought to confuse predators.
Malaysian photographer Chien Lee won the Plants and Fungi category with "Deadly Allure," using UV photography techniques to illustrate how carnivorous pitcher plants reflect ultraviolet light as part of their prey-luring display in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. The long exposure and UV torch technique revealed the plants' use of color, scent, and nectar to attract victims.
The Portfolio Award went to Alexey Kharitonov of Israel/Russia for "Visions of the North," featuring aerial drone photography that captures the rapid transition from summer to winter across Russian taiga forests and Arctic tundra. One striking image shows a recently frozen lake in Svetlyachkovskoye Swamp with snow-dusted dark circles etched with crack-like veins.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition continues to serve as a showcase for both artistic excellence and environmental awareness, with this year's entries demonstrating the crucial role of wildlife photography in documenting biodiversity, conservation challenges, and the intricate relationships between species and their habitats. The exhibition at London's Natural History Museum will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience these remarkable images and the stories they tell about our natural world.
