Page 82 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #11

PHOTO STORY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

LOUNGING LEOPARD
SKYE MEAKER, SOUTH AFRICA
Grand Title Winner, 15–17 Years Old

Mathoja was dozing when Skye found her, lying along a low
branch of a nyala tree in Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve.
As Skye watched, Mathoja opened her eyes for a moment;
overhead branches admitted a shaft of light that gave a glint
to her eyes, helping him create this memorable portrait.

NIGHT FLIGHT
MICHAEL PATRICK O’NEILL, USA
Winner, Under Water

On a night dive in the Atlantic of
Florida, Michael achieved a long-
held goal: to portray the speed,
motion and beauty of flying fish.
At night, these fish move more
slowly as they feed on planktonic
animals, allowing Michael to
capture his ‘innerspace’ vision.

KUHIRWA MOURNS
HER BABY
RICARDO NÚÑEZ MONTERO, SPAIN
Winner, Behaviour: Mammals
Kuhirwa, a young female
mountain gorilla in Uganda’s
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest,
holds the corpse of her baby,
which died soon after being born
in bad weather; Kuhirwa initially
cuddled and groomed the body.

82 BBC Wildlife November 2018