The most beautiful animal photos of 2024: the main prize was won by a fight of snow leopards

The winner of the 2024 Wildlife Photo Contest is a breathtaking image of two snow leopards in a dramatic confrontation. The photo was chosen from a record 22,851 images submitted by nature photographers from 96 countries.

The Nature Photographer of the Year competition is organized by Nature Talks, the organization responsible for the Nature Talks Photo Festival, which is held annually in the Netherlands. It is open to amateur and professional wildlife photographers from all over the world and includes a grand prize of 3000 euros for the overall winner and 500 euros plus photographic equipment for the finalists in 12 different categories, Forbes writes. And OBOZ.UA shares with you the 10 best photos, starting with the winner.

The photo titled "Game between Siblings"

The overall prize and the title of "Nature Photographer of the Year 2024" went to Paolo Della Rocca, a well-known nature photographer from Italy, for his photo titled "The Game Between Siblings," which depicts two young snow leopards in a playful confrontation.

"This extraordinary photograph captures what many consider to be the holy grail of wildlife photography – not just one, but two snow leopards in a dramatic confrontation. The image freezes a breathtaking moment as these elusive animals stand on their hind legs, their powerful forms perfectly set against the snowy landscape, creating a scene of brute strength and natural drama," the judges explained.

For this image, the photographer waited for more than six hours at the edge of the canyon, enduring a relentless snowstorm as temperatures plummeted to -25°C. When the storm subsided, the leopards emerged from their cave, chasing each other down the slopes. "And then the moment came: a perfect shot and one of the most magical days of my life," Paolo Della Rocca shared his impressions.

Fishing, category "Mammals"

A spotted genet visits a pond to catch prey and sees a cluster of small carp swimming under the water's surface. These elusive creatures are skillful hunters of fish, frogs, mammals, birds, eggs, reptiles, and amphibians, and they love fruits, insects, and wild mushrooms.

"My goal was to unite these realms above and below," said photographer Hannes Lochner.

Curious guanaco, category "Mammals"

According to photographer Charles Janson, they went to find a puma near Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. It was -20 degrees Celsius, very cold and the team was literally covered in a dense icy fog.

"I was just about to take a landscape photo when a guanaco appeared over the crest of the hill, invading my pristine setting," he says.

Disturbing shadow, category "Other animals"

This image shows an amazing insect from the mantis species – Empusa pennata. It camouflages itself to blend in with its surroundings. Its stick-like body and subtle, calculated movements allow it to remain hidden from predators and human eyes alike, making it difficult to spot.

"With my photography, I hope to raise awareness of the need to protect these vital habitats," said the author of the photo, Sebastien Blomme.

Peregrine falcon hunting within a flock of shorebirds, category "Birds"

Nick Dunlop has been photographing birds of prey for over 50 years, with a particular focus on peregrine falcons, and has been trying to capture them hunting in the wild.

"I quickly discovered that the larger the flock, the more likely it was to attract a falcon," he says. Persistence paid off, and he was in the right place at the right time to get an intimate shot of peregrine hunting in a flock of shorebirds.

Surfing, category "Birds"

During a trip to the Falkland Islands in South America, Levi Fitze had the opportunity to observe and study the behavior of four common penguin species. Among them were the Gentoo penguins, who were returning from hunting in the open sea, riding the waves as they came ashore.

Gentoo penguins are the fastest swimmers among penguins, and they have proven to be skilled surfers, even riding the waves on the other side.

Milky Way, youth category

The photographer Ismael Dominguez said that he got this shot during an experiment with a long exposure using a flash. "A small bat appeared in the frame, flying through the scene, and the Milky Way created a stunning backdrop," he said.

Melancholy, category Nature Art

A fascinating combination of autumn colors of beech leaves, lichens, and fog is overexposed to achieve a painting effect.

Invisible Killers, winner of the Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award

Two species of migratory birds (a banded warbler and a water thrush) were found dead together after colliding with a building in midtown Manhattan.

Bird collisions are a major conservation issue and the second leading cause of bird mortality. This can be prevented by using bird-friendly window solutions.

Bedtime, category "People and Nature"

This photo shows Niete, a chimpanzee recently rescued from a poacher. She was going to be sold as a pet, and her family was killed for wild meat.

It takes a great deal of love and dedication to rebuild a trusting relationship with a chimpanzee. In this image, Niete fell asleep in her husband's arms after a bottle of warm milk at night. When she grows up and becomes stronger and confident enough, she will be introduced to other rescued chimps.

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