The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has revealed the winners of this year's Animal Photography Prize.
Andy Skillen's image of a grizzly bear on the prowl in the US has taken the judges' top prize. Skillen said of the photo: "Here we see a female grizzly bear, patrolling the beaches of the Greater Lake Clark National Park area with Alaska's ubiquitous mountains providing an iconic backdrop across the strait.
"As it was late in the day, and the light was lending itself to a truly spectacular silhouette, I lay down in the water a little way along the beach and waited for her to come into shot. She dipped her head to search for fish and her back momentarily became part of the mountain range.
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"If this image convinces one person that wilderness is soul-fulfilling reality, full of amazing wildlife that needs saving, then I will have achieved everything I wanted to."
Attracting more than 450 entries from around the world, the winners were selected by a panel of expert judges including ZSL Honorary Conservation Fellow and television presenter Kate Humble, and renowned ornithologist Bill Oddie.
The judges were looking for look for images which challenge the viewers' perception of and relationship with the natural world and its inhabitants.
First launched in 2012, the Prize was established to inspire photographers both professional and amateur alike, to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom.
ZSL's Director General Ralph Armond said: "As stories of rare species facing extinction and increasing illegal wildlife trade dominate headlines, the need to raise awareness of and celebrate the wonders of the natural world has never been more pressing.
"For the fourth year running we have been impressed by the standard of the images entered into the ZSL Animal Photography Prize, with magnificent entries submitted not only by adults, but in the junior categories too, which only reaffirms our belief in the importance of rousing people of all ages to work for wildlife."
All the information about the winners and next year's competition can be found on the ZSL website.
Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.
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