This adorable graffiti-admiring badger is People’s Choice of 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A perfectly timed encounter between an urban badger and a piece of graffiti has captured the hearts of wildlife photography enthusiasts worldwide. British photographer Ian Wood’s charming image, titled No Access, has been crowned the winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2024. The award celebrates the public’s favorite wildlife images, chosen from a shortlist of 25 breathtaking entries. This year, a record-breaking 76,000 people cast their votes, making Ian’s badger the undisputed star.

The People’s Choice

The winning photo was taken in St Leonards-on-Sea, England, where Ian had been observing local wildlife venturing into the town at night. Residents had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes, and soon, badgers from a nearby sett started joining the late-night feast. Ian noticed one particular badger wandering past a graffiti-covered wall and saw an opportunity for a unique shot.

“The outpouring of badger love since my photo was nominated for the People’s Choice Award has been beautifully overwhelming,” Ian shared. “Finding out that it has won is truly humbling.”

With only a lamppost illuminating the scene, he set up a small hide by the roadside, waiting for the perfect moment. His patience paid off when a badger ambled along, pausing to glance up at the graffiti, creating a wonderful illusion of it interacting with the artwork.

Beyond its charm, Ian’s image carries a deeper message about conservation. Living in rural Dorset, he has been on a rewilding mission, working to restore habitats for wildlife. But he is deeply concerned about the ongoing badger cull in parts of England.

“There is a darker side to this image,” he explains. “The badger cull – which is still ongoing – has decimated their numbers, and I fear that unless the cull is stopped, we’ll only see badgers in urban settings in several parts of England. My hope is for this image to raise awareness of the damaging effect of the badger cull and help push for change.”

The highly commended images

Alongside Ian’s winning photo, four other stunning images received Highly Commended status. They include Francisco Negroni’s Earth and Sky, Jess Findlay’s Edge of Night, Michel d’Oultremont’s Whiteout, and David Northall’s Spiked.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London, and this is where the annual exhibition is hosted. Ian’s image, along with the four Highly Commended photos, was selected from nearly 60,000 entries submitted to the sixtieth edition of the contest. All five shots will be displayed on the contest website, and you can see them in person at the Natural History Museum until June 29, 2025.

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