snapping the world's rarest hyena

Maddie MolloyClimate and Science Reporter

Wim van den Heever A brown hyena stands near the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining building in dusty light.

A brown hyena standing next to the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement has earned wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

He set up his camera trap after spotting fresh hyena tracks in the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia. According to him, it took him ten years to get vaccinated.

The rarest of all hyena species, the brown hyena is primarily nocturnal and tends to be solitary. For years, Mr van den Heever searched the deserted city, finding only traces of the elusive animal.

“I knew they were there, but it was just impossible to actually photograph them,” he says, after thinking about it.

He was awarded the London Natural History Museum Prize.

The annual exhibition dedicated to the competition will open at the Natural History Museum on October 17.

Keep scrolling to view the full collection of award-winning images.

Andrea Dominici Longhorn beetle on tree bark with long antennae raised, yellow mole rat blurred behind in forest.

Category: Junior Grand Prize and winner aged 15 to 17 years.

Heading: After destruction

Photographer: Andrea Dominici, Italy

Location: Mount Lepini, Lazio, Italy

While exploring the Lepini Mountains in central Italy, where old beeches once grew, Andrea noticed a beetle resting on a cut log next to abandoned machinery.

“This photograph shows the history and problem that many animal species face: habitat loss,” he says. “In this case, it’s a beetle that’s losing the tree and the wood it needs to lay eggs.”

Category winners

By Shane Gross Peppered moray eels wade through rocks and tide pools to scavenge during low tides.

Category: Animals in the environment

Heading: Like an eel out of water

Photographer: Shane Gross, Canada

Location: D'Arros Island, Amirante, Seychelles

After several weeks of patience, last year's winnerShane Gross, caught peppered moray eels scavenging at low tide.

He endured the sun, heat and flies for hours, waiting for the place where the dead fish washed up. Eventually three eels appeared.

Jamie the Clever Orb-Spider wrapped himself in his silken shelter, entwined with dew-dusted strands of web.

Category: Category “10 years and younger”

Heading: Weaver's Lair

Photographer: Jamie Smart, UK

Location: Mid Wales, UK

On a cold September morning, Jamie Smart discovered a weaving spider curled up in its silken shelter.

“It's also something special for me because I can show something that people are usually afraid of,” she says.

Sebastian Fröhlich A colgartha insect floating among clusters of neon green methane bubbles.

Category: Wetlands: the big picture

Heading: Disappearing Pond

Photographer: Sebastian Fröhlich, Germany

Location: Platzertal, Tyrol, Austria

Sebastian Fröhlich visited Austria's Platzertal bogs, fragile wetlands, to highlight their vital role as a carbon sink and habitat for a variety of wildlife at a time when Austria has lost 90% of its peatlands.

Lubin Godin Alpine goat lies on a rocky mountain ridge above a cover of golden clouds. The sky above is dusty orange.

Category: 11–14 years old

Heading: Alpine dawn

Photographer: Lubin Gaudin, France

Location: Col de la Colombiere, Haute-Savoie, France

During an early climb, Lubin Godin discovered an Alpine ibex resting above a sea of clouds. He retraced his steps as the sun came out and captured the scene before the fog returned.

Ralph Pace's egg featuring a large shark attached to giant seaweed on the seabed, illuminated by green underwater light.

Category: Underwater

Heading: Survival Wallet

Photographer: Ralph Pace, USA

Location: Monterey Bay, California, USA

Braving a strong current, Ralph Pace took this photo of a shark's egg shell, revealing a glowing embryo with gill slits and a yolk sac.

Large sharks lay leathery kelp eggs, making them vulnerable to the loss of kelp forests. Researchers estimate that seagrass abundance in Monterey Bay has declined by more than 95 percent over the past 34 years.

Philip Egger A Eurasian eagle owl in deep shadow, its orange eyes glowing as the light touches its dark feathers.

Category: Animal portraits

Heading: Shadow Hunter

Photographer: Philipp Egger, Italy

Location: Naturns, South Tyrol, Italy

Philipp Egger watched this eagle owl's nest from afar for more than four years.

Among the world's largest owls, eagle owls are approximately twice as heavy as buzzards. These nocturnal hunters nest on rocks or in crevices and often return to the same place for many years.

The Qingrong Yang ladyfish rises above the surface of the water to grab its prey, while the heron flies directly above it.

Category: Behavior: Birds

Heading: Synchronized fishing

Photographer: Qingrong Yang, China

Location: Yundan Lake, Fujian Province, China.

Qingrong Yang caught the ladyfish snatching its prey right under the little heron's beak.

He visits the lake frequently to capture these frantic feeding moments.

Dennis Stogsdill A caracal captured a bloody flamingo while hunting on a sandy lakeshore.

Category: Behavior: Mammals

Heading: Cat among flamingos

Photographer: Dennis Stogsdill, USA

Location: Lake Ndutu, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

Caracals are known for their acrobatic leaps to catch birds, but they are rarely seen hunting flamingos.

John A. Juarez A southern white rhinoceros fetus on a surgical mat surrounded by medical instruments in a laboratory.

Category: Photojournalism

Heading: How to save the view

Photographer: John A. Juarez, Spain

Location: Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Laikipia County, Kenya

In the years following the BioRescue Project, John A. Juarez witnessed a breakthrough in rhino conservation—the first successful transfer of a rhino embryo to a surrogate mother.

Although the southern white rhinoceros fetus pictured here did not survive the infection, the milestone proved that IVF can work for rhinos, bringing scientists closer to saving the endangered northern white rhinoceros.

The BBC reported on this incredible story and you can read about it here.

Quentin Martinez Small tree frogs gathered at night on broad, dark green leaves, pitch black background.

Category: Behavior: amphibians and reptiles

Heading: frolicking frogs

Photographer: Quentin Martinez, French Guiana

Location: Mount Kau, French Guiana

During heavy rain, Quentin Martinez followed a flooded path to a puddle in a forest clearing and captured the metallic glint of small tree frogs gathering to breed.

Javier Aznar Gonzalez de Rueda A large enclosure filled with hundreds of Western diamondback rattlesnakes as visitors watch through glass windows.

Category: The story of a photojournalist

Heading: End of review

Photographer: Javier Aznar Gonzalez de Rueda, Spain

Location: USA

In the United States, Javier Aznar Gonzalez de Rueda explored the conflicting public views of rattlesnakes, from deep respect to fear and persecution.

See more images from his winning portfolio here..

By Georgina Steitler A chewing leaf skeleton caterpillar, backlit at sunset, displays stacked old head capsules from past molts.

Category: Behavior: Invertebrates

Heading: Mad Hatter

Photographer: Georgina Steytler, Australia

Location: Thorndirup National Park, Western Australia

Georgina Steytler showed off a strange tower made from the discarded head capsules of a skeletonized caterpillar. Each moult leaves behind a capsule that forms a stack, which is thought to confuse predators.

Audun Rikardsen A flock of seagulls swarms around an Atlantic fishing trawler at night, the sky pitch black except for the glow of the boat's lights.

Category: Oceans: the big picture

Heading: Holiday

Photographer: Audun Rikardsen, Norway

Location: Kvenangenfjord, Skjervoy, Norway

During the polar night in Norway, Audun Rikardsen photographed seagulls swarming around a fishing boat, trying to catch fish caught in the net.

He is keen to highlight the conflict between seabirds and the fishing industry. Many birds drown in purse seines every year.

Chien Lee took first place in the Plants and Fungi category.

Chien Lee Insect-attracting pitcher plants glow pink and purple under UV lights in the dark. — Chien Lee took first place in the Plants and Fungi category.

Category: Plants and mushrooms

Heading: Deadly Charm

Photographer: Chien Lee, Malaysia

Location: Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

Some carnivorous pitcher plants reflect ultraviolet light, using color, scent and nectar to lure prey. To illustrate this, Chien Lee used a long exposure and a UV lamp.

Luca Lorenz Coipu stands upright near a body of water at dusk. Behind him, ghostly swans glide through the water, framed by a dreamy, blurry backdrop of leafless trees against a blue-violet sky.

Category: Rising Star

Heading: Vigilant moments

Photographer: Luca Lorenz, Germany

Location: Germany

While Luca Lorenz was photographing mute swans on the city lake, a coypu blew up his frame.

See more of his portfolio images here.

Simone Baumeister Creative abstract photography showing colorful blurred circular shapes in red, blue, yellow and orange on a black background. In the center is the silhouette of a spider, which appears to be floating inside one of the glowing figures.

Category: Natural artistry

Heading: Caught in the headlights

Photographer: Simone Baumeister, Germany

Location: Ibbenbüren, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

On the city bridge, Simone Baumeister photographed the silhouette of a weaver spider against the background of a traffic light. By flipping one of the six glass elements of her lens, she created a kaleidoscopic effect, framing the spider.