Our showcase of the winning entries from the Wildlife Photography of the Year Awards 2024

© Shane Gross/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

OVERALL WINNER & WINNER, WETLANDS: THE BIGGER PICTURE Gross (Canada)

‘The Swarm of Life’ Shane

Shane Gross looked under the surface layer of lily pads as a mass of western toad tadpoles swam past. He had been snorkelling in the lake for several hours, through carpets of lily pads. This prevented any disturbance of the fine layers of silt and algae covering the lake bottom, which would have reduced visibility.

Western toad tadpoles swim up from the safer depths of the lake, dodging predators and trying to reach the shallows where they can feed. The tadpoles start to become toads between four and 12 weeks after hatching. An estimated 99 per cent will not survive to adulthood.

Location: Cedar Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Technical details: Nikon D500 and Tokina Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens at 11mm; 1/200 sec at f/13, ISO 640; two Sea & Sea strobes; Aquatica housing

© Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

WINNER, BEHAVIOUR: MAMMALS Liyanage Prasantha Vinod (Sri Lanka)