The grand title of Wildlife photographer of the year has been awarded to Chinese photographer Yongqing Bao for his fascinating photograph of a Tibetan fox pouncing on a startled marmot in China’s Qilian Mountains.
This award, given annually by the London Natural History Museum, selected this winning image from 48,000 entries submitted by photographers from 100 countries.
“Photographically, it is quite simply the perfect moment. 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,” said Roz Kidman Cox, the chair of the judging panel in a statement. “Images from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are rare enough, but to have captured such a powerful interaction between a Tibetan fox and a marmot – two species key to the ecology of this high-grassland region – is extraordinary.”
Bao is the Director and Chief Ecological Photographer of the Qilian Mountain Nature Conservation Association of China.
“During years of photography, I have come to realize that there is a long way to go in terms of environmental conservation,” he said.”As a photographer, I believe that it is my responsibility to let people know that wild animals are indispensable friends to humans.”
The winner of the Young Wildlife Photographer award was given to Cruz Erdmann for his picture of a displaying big-finned reef squid in Indonesia.
Image: London Natural History Museum
