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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice winners capture nature at its fiercest

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a bloodied badger stares at a porcupine. the badger is covered in quills

A cape porcupine faces off against a snarling honey badger in Botswana, a moment captured by photographer David Northall in his photo titled “Spiked.” The badger inflicts a leg injury on the porcupine, leaving it vulnerable and unable to survive the encounter despite its sharp quills providing some defense.

Northall’s photo was one of the top five finalists in the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Awards, with Ian Wood winning the top prize for his image of a Eurasian badger in St Leonards-on-Sea, England.

The Natural History Museum’s Director, Dr. Douglas Gurr, praised Wood’s photo for highlighting the interaction between urban wildlife and humans, emphasizing the importance of understanding and appreciating local nature and wildlife.

“No Access” by Ian Wood (UK). Winner.
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

This year’s People’s Choice Award winner was decided by a record 76,000 votes, with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition on display at the Natural History Museum, London, showcasing Ian Wood’s winning image and the four runner-up photographs until June 29, 2025.

a owl flies out of a barn at night
Edge of Night” by Jess Findlay (Canada), Highly commended
A ghostly barn owl exits the hayloft window of a derelict barn to hunt in fields outside Vancouver, Canada. Jess quietly watched the owl for several nights to understand its habits. He set up an invisible beam that would trigger a flash when the owl flew out of the barn. Simultaneously, a slow shutter speed gathered ambient light cast on the clouds and barn. On the tenth night, all the moving parts came together as the owl left to begin its hunt.
Credit: Jess Findlay/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
double cloud shines red above a volcano
Earth and Sky” by Francisco Negroni (Chile), Highly commended
A double lenticular cloud is illuminated at nightfall by the lava emitted from the Villarrica volcano, Chile. Villarica is in the town of Pucón in the south of Chile. It’s one of the country’s most active volcanoes and last erupted in 2015. Francisco takes regular trips to Villarrica to monitor its activity. On this visit, he stayed nearby for 10 nights. He says every trip is “quite an adventure – never knowing what the volcano might surprise you with”. Some nights are calm, others furious as in this photograph, where the brightness of the crater illuminates the night sky.
Credit: Francisco Negroni/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
a white stoat blends in with a snowy backdrop
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