During the Chinese New Year, a Pallas’s cat in Inner Mongolia is captured by Xingchao Zhu during an early morning as it prepares for breakfast. The wild cat’s striking golden eyes are illuminated by the setting moon, creating a dramatic scene.
Xingchao Zhu captures a Pallas’s cat as the moon sets. Xingchao tracked a group of these cats on the freezing plateau of Inner Mongolia during the Chinese New Year in February 2023. Just before dawn, Xingchao made eye contact with this cat, which had caught a small bird.
The captivating image of the Pallas’s cat is a commendable honoree for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards. The competition, now in its 60th year, received nearly 60,000 entries from around the world. The Grand Title and Young Grand Title winners will be announced on October 8.
Organized by the Natural History Museum, London, the winning photographs will be displayed at the museum from October 11 to June 29, 2025.
(Click to expand to see the images in full detail.)
William Fortescue captures mating lions against a backdrop of storm clouds lit by the setting sun.
