Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Public voting opens in contest of stunning nature pictures

Liam James
·1-min read
<p>A red squirrel nestles with a partner (mostly concealed) in a box of twigs and brush setup by the photographer Neil Anderson near his home in the Scottish Highlands</p> (Neil Anderson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

A red squirrel nestles with a partner (mostly concealed) in a box of twigs and brush setup by the photographer Neil Anderson near his home in the Scottish Highlands

(Neil Anderson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

The public have been invited to have their say in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice award.

The Natural History Museum has launched the contest, which will see voters choose their favourite from a shortlist containing 25 of the most stunning wildlife pictures taken by top nature photographers from around the globe.

This year’s shortlist includes pictures of endangered Iberian lynx kittens making an abandoned hayloft their playground, a close-up portrait of a distinctive deep-sea fish, a group of burrowing owls living in harmony with their human neighbours in suburban Florida and the final moments of the last surviving male northern white rhino.

Joseph Wachira comforts Sudan, the last male northern white rhino left on the planet, moments before he passed away at Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in northern KenyaAmi Vitale/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Joseph Wachira comforts Sudan, the last male northern white rhino left on the planet, moments before he passed away at Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy in northern KenyaAmi Vitale/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A Japanese warbonnet photographed in the Gulf of Oprichnik in the Sea of JapanAndrey Shpatak/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A Japanese warbonnet photographed in the Gulf of Oprichnik in the Sea of JapanAndrey Shpatak/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Voting is now under way and will continue until 2 February 2021. The winning picture from the People's Choice Award will be featured in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum alongside the winners of the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Now in its 56th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year is known for drawing incredible images from the top talent in nature photography.

Dr Tim Littlewood, executive director of Science at the Natural History Museum and member of the judging panel, said: "The People’s Choice Award provides the public with an opportunity to select images and stories from the natural world that move and intrigue them.

“This year’s shortlist includes a wide diversity of wildlife photography from a fragile planet. Whether assessing human-animal relationships, highlighting the plight of captive species or animals thriving in their environments, the public are in for a difficult decision!”

Wildlife carer Julie Malherbe looks after three recently orphaned grey-headed flying-fox pups in her home whilst at workDouglas Gimesy/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife carer Julie Malherbe looks after three recently orphaned grey-headed flying-fox pups in her home whilst at workDouglas Gimesy/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Dog meets moose on the Antelope Flats of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National ParkGuillermo Esteves/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Dog meets moose on the Antelope Flats of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National ParkGuillermo Esteves/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Great egrets in the wetlands of the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong KongJoseph Dominic Anthony/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Great egrets in the wetlands of the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong KongJoseph Dominic Anthony/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Burrowing owls live side-by-side with humans on Marco Island in Florida’s Ten Thousand Barrier IslandsKarine Aigner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Burrowing owls live side-by-side with humans on Marco Island in Florida’s Ten Thousand Barrier IslandsKarine Aigner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A mountain hare grooms itself in wintery conditions in Scotland’s CairngormsAndy Parkinson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A mountain hare grooms itself in wintery conditions in Scotland’s CairngormsAndy Parkinson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A barnacle goose flees as a polar bear lurks over its nest in Svalbard, NorwayPetri Pietilainen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A barnacle goose flees as a polar bear lurks over its nest in Svalbard, NorwayPetri Pietilainen/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
European beavers at their favourite feeding place in Grimma, GermanyOliver Richter/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
European beavers at their favourite feeding place in Grimma, GermanyOliver Richter/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Endangered green sea turtles in Little Farmer’s Cay in the BahamasThomas P Peschak/National Geographic/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Endangered green sea turtles in Little Farmer’s Cay in the BahamasThomas P Peschak/National Geographic/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Two Iberian lynx kittens, Quijote and Queen, play in the abandoned hayloft where they were born in Sierra Morena, SpainSergio Marijuan Campuzano/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Two Iberian lynx kittens, Quijote and Queen, play in the abandoned hayloft where they were born in Sierra Morena, SpainSergio Marijuan Campuzano/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Votes for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award can be cast on the Natural History Museum website.

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