The key facts
- First place went to Kevin Shi's 'Struggle for Life' — a puma hunting a guanaco
- Third place: Felix Belloin's photo of a polar bear sleeping on Arctic ice
- The jury also highly rated Douglas Gimesy's shot of a flying fox carrying its pup
The Naked Science publication presented a curated selection of photos from the winners and works highly rated by the jury. They depict predators' hunts, animals caring for their young, and unexpected encounters in nature, reflect ing.
First place — 'Struggle for Life', Kevin Shi
The photographer observed a female puma feeding her two cubs for several days. In the morning, the predator slowly approached a guanaco and then attacked. The puma repeatedly tried to bring down its prey and bite its neck, but the guanaco ultimately managed to escape.
Second place — 'High Mountains', Marco Gaiotti
The photo shows a gelada sitting on a rock in the Ethiopian Highlands at sunset. This primate, found only in Ethiopia, is distinguished by the reddish patch on its chest. Its diet consists almost entirely of grasses.
Third place — 'Sleeping Beauty', Felix Belloin
In the summer of 2025, the photographer was aboard a ship sailing among the thick Arctic ice of northern Svalbard. Spotting something resembling a bundle on a distant ice slope, he launched a drone.
Upon closer inspection, a polar bear turned out to be curled up asleep in a hollow beside the bright blue ice formation. To avoid disturbing the animal, the photographer kept the drone high, took the picture, and moved away.
'Flight with Her Baby', Douglas Gimesy
In the photo highly rated by the jury, a grey-headed flying fox — a large bat — is seen flying among trees near Melbourne carrying her pup. The young cling to their mother until they become too heavy. After that, they stay behind in the trees with other youngsters, waiting for their mothers to return.
