Incredible “tadpole party” wins 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Natural History Museum in London has unveiled the 2024 winners of its prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The top prize went to Canadian Marine Conservation photojournalist Shane Gross for his captivating image The Swarm of Life. This stunning underwater photograph showcases a mesmerizing scene of western toad tadpoles, and it looks absolutely magical!

Celebrating its sixtieth year, the competition received a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories. This year’s winner took his image in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Gross spent hours snorkeling through carpets of lily pads to capture the perfect moment, ensuring that he did not disturb the delicate ecosystem. This species is near-threatened due to habitat destruction and predators. These tadpoles start their transition into toads between four and twelve weeks after hatching, but an estimated 99% of them will not survive to adulthood.

“The jury was captivated by the mix of light, energy and connectivity between the environment and the tadpoles,” said Kathy Moran, Chair of the Jury and Editor. “We were equally excited by the addition of a new species to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year archive.”

Other than the overall victory, this stunning image earned Gross the first place in the Wetlands: The Bigger Picture category.

Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024

Wildlife Photographer of the Year also recognizes and awards young photographer. Tjis year, the winner in this category is Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas from Germany for his close-up image Life Under Dead Wood. This remarkable shot features fruiting bodies of slime mold and a tiny springtail, showcasing the intricate details of the forest floor. Alexis used a focus stacking technique to combine 36 images to create this stunning composition.

More about the contest

The competition’s 18 category winners highlight the wonders and challenges of biodiversity across the planet. From the enchanting underwater world to the intricate details of terrestrial ecosystems, these photographs offer a glimpse into the natural world’s beauty and fragility.

To celebrate its sixtieth anniversary, the competition introduced the Impact Award, which recognizes conservation success stories. Liwia Pawłowska from Poland won the Young Impact Award for her image Recording by Hand, which spotlights bird ringing efforts to monitor populations and track migratory patterns.

Jannico Kelk from Australia received the Adult Impact Award for Hope for the Ninu, showcasing the greater bilby, a marsupial brought to near extinction, thriving in a fenced reserve.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will open on Friday, October 11, 2024, at the Natural History Museum in London. The exhibition will feature the 100 awarded images, as well as highlights from the competition’s sixtieth-year history. Visitors can also explore videos and insights from jury members, photographers, and Museum scientists to learn more about the importance of wildlife conservation.

Enjoy the remaining category winners below, and make sure to visit the contest website for more images and information about the exhibition.

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