In Botswana, a dramatic scene unfolds as a honey badger confronts a cape porcupine. Despite the porcupine’s defense with sharp quills, a leg injury inflicted by the badger leaves it vulnerable, leading to a fatal outcome in their battle for survival.
Photographer David Northall captures this intense moment in a photograph titled “Spiked.” The image is among the top five entries in the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Awards, recently announced in London. Ian Wood’s winning photograph portrays a Eurasian badger roaming the streets of St Leonards-on-Sea, England.
Dr. Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, praises Ian’s photograph for highlighting the interaction between urban wildlife and human environments. The image serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty and inspiration found in local wildlife just outside our homes.
An ambling Eurasian badger, illuminated by a streetlight, appears to glance up at badger graffiti on a quiet road in England, UK. Residents of St Leonards-on-Sea had been leaving food scraps on the pavement for foxes, but Ian noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage. After seeing a badger walking along the pavement by this wall late one night, he decided to photograph it. He set up a small hide on the edge of the road to take this picture.
Credit: Ian Wood/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A record number of 76,000 votes were cast to determine this year’s People’s Choice Award winner. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organized by the Natural History Museum in London, showcases Ian Wood’s winning image and the runners-up photographs at the museum until June 29, 2025.
A ghostly barn owl exits the hayloft window of a derelict barn to hunt in fields outside Vancouver, Canada. Jess quietly observed the owl for several nights to understand its behavior. He set up a system to capture the owl’s flight with a flash and ambient light, resulting in this captivating image.
Credit: Jess Findlay/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A double lenticular cloud illuminated by the lava from Villarrica volcano at nightfall in Chile. Villarrica, located in Pucón, is one of the country’s most active volcanoes. Francisco captures the volcano’s activity during his trips, with this photo showcasing the brightness of the crater against the night sky.
Credit: Francisco Negroni/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
