Winning pictures from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019 revealed
The marmot had not been out of hibernation for long when it ventured out of the burrows – but an encounter with a fox left the rodent slack-jawed and frozen in fear.
The dramatic image, aptly titled The Moment, has earned Chinese photographer Yongqing Bao the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019 award, given by London’s Natural History Museum.
“Photographically, it is quite simply the perfect moment,” said chief judge Roz Kidman Cox.
“The expressive intensity of the postures holds you transfixed, and the thread of energy between the raised paws seems to hold the protagonists in perfect balance.”
Cox added that the photograph, which was captured in China’s Qilian Mountains, “captured such a powerful interaction between a Tibetan fox and a marmot – two species key to the ecology of this high-grassland region”.
Natural History Museum director Michael Dixon said the image shows nature’s fragility.
“This compelling picture captures nature’s ultimate challenge – its battle for survival,” Dixon said.
“The area in which this was taken, often referred to as the ‘third pole’ because of the enormous water reserves held by its ice fields, is under threat from dramatic temperature rises like those seen in the Arctic.
“At a time when precious habitats are facing increasing climate pressures, seeing these fleeting yet fascinating moments reminds us of what we need to protect.”
Bao beat out more than 48,000 entries from 100 countries to win the prestigious title.
14-year-old Cruz Erdmann from New Zealand was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019 for his portrait of a bigfin reef squid in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
“To dive in the pitch dark, find this beautiful squid and to be able to photograph it so elegantly, to reveal its wonderful shapes and colours, takes so much skill,” judge Theo Bosboom said.
“What a resounding achievement for such a young photographer.”
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition celebrates the world’s best nature photography. The winning images are evaluated by a panel of international experts for their artistic composition, technical innovation and truthful interpretation of the natural world.
Scroll through the gallery to see the winning pictures from the competition.