Photo of Fox Scaring Marmot Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019

Oct 16, 2019

Michael Zhang

A photo of a marmot being spooked by a fox has been selected as the winner of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019 competition. Titled “The Moment,” the image was captured by photographer Yongqing Bao of China

“A powerful frame of both humour and horror, it captures the drama and intensity of nature,” the competition says of the shot.

“Photographically, it is quite simply the perfect moment,” says Roz Kidman Cox, chair of the judging panel. “The expressive intensity of the postures holds you transfixed, and the thread of energy between the raised paws seems to hold the protagonists in perfect balance.

“Images from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are rare enough, but to have captured such a powerful interaction between a Tibetan fox and a marmot – two species key to the ecology of this high-grassland region – is extraordinary.”

Over 48,000 entries were submitted to the contest this year from 100 countries around the world.

Here are some of the other winning photos:

“Humming surprise” by Thomas Easterbrook, UK. Winner of 10 years and under. Thomas Easterbrook / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Night glow” by Cruz Erdmann, New Zealand. Winner of 11-14 years old. Cruz Erdmann / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Early riser” by Riccardo Marchgiani, Italy. Winner of 15-17 years old. Riccardo Marchgiani / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Snow-plateau nomads” by Shangzhen Fan, China. Winner of Animals in Their Environment. Shangzhen Fan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Face of deception” by Ripan Biswas, India. Winner of Animal Portraits. Ripan Biswas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Pondworld” by Manuel Plaickner, Italy. Winner of Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles. Manuel Plaickner / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Land of the eagle” by Audun Rikardsen, Norway. Winner of Behaviour: Birds. Audun Rikardsen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“The architectural army” by Daniel Kronauer, USA. Winner of Behaviour: Invertebrates. Daniel Kronauer / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“The equal match” by Ingo Arndt, Germany. Joint Winner of Behaviour: Mammals. Ingo Arndt / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Tapestry of life” by Zorica Kovacevic, Serbia/USA. Winner of Plants and Fungi. Zorica Kovacevic / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“The garden of eels” by David Doubilet, USA. Winner of Under Water. David Doubilet / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“The rat pack” by Charlie Hamilton James, UK. Winner of Urban Wildlife. Charlie Hamilton James / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Creation” by Luis Vilariño Lopez, Spain. Winner of Earth’s Environments. Luis Vilariño Lopez / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Snow exposure” by Max Waugh, USA. Winner of Black and White. Max Waugh / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Another barred migrant” by Alejandro Prieto, Mexico. Winner of Wildlife Photojournalism: Single Image. Alejandro Prieto / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Show time” by Jasper Doest, Netherlands. Winner of Wildlife Photojournalist Story Award. Jasper Doest / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“Frozen moment” by Jérémie Villet, France. Winner of Rising Star Portfolio Award. Jérémie Villet / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“The huddle” by Stefan Christmann, Germany. Winner of Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio Award. Stefan Christmann / Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Winning photographs will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in the UK and will tour the world through countries such as Canada, Spain, the USA, Australia, and Germany.