Brown Hyena in Namibian Ghost Town Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A striking image of a brown hyena standing amidst the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement in Namibia has been awarded the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year title today.

Photographer Wim van den Heever captured the winning shot in Kolmanskop, a ghost town reclaimed by the desert. He spent ten years tracking the elusive brown hyena, the rarest of all hyena species, using camera traps after spotting fresh tracks. “I knew they were there, but actually photographing one was just never going to happen,” van den Heever said. The image was awarded at London’s Natural History Museum, and the annual exhibition dedicated to the competition opens on October 17th.

Alongside the grand prize winner, several other photographers were recognized for their work. Andrea Dominizi won the Junior Grand Prize with a photograph titled “After the Destruction,” depicting a beetle on a cut log, highlighting the impact of habitat loss. Other category winners included Shane Gross for his underwater shot of peppered moray eels, and Jon A Juárez, whose photojournalism documented a breakthrough in rhino conservation through IVF – a critical step in saving the critically endangered northern white rhino. You can explore the full collection of award-winning images here.

The competition also highlighted pressing environmental concerns, with images showcasing the impact of climate change on wetlands and kelp forests, as well as the conflict between wildlife and human activity. Officials stated that the exhibition aims to inspire dialogue and action towards protecting the planet’s biodiversity.