WILD
LIFE
Q1 2023
WINNER
LAKSHITHA KARUNARATHNA - MONARCH BUTTERFLIES WINTERING
"A gigantic kaleidoscope of Monarch butterflies gathered on Oyamel Fir tree in the El Rosario Butterfly sanctuary amidst a drizzling. The North American monarchs migrate both north and south on an annual basis, in a long-distance journey that is fraught with risks. The population east of the Rocky Mountains attempts to migrate to the sanctuaries of the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican state of Michoacán and parts of Florida. The western population tries to reach overwintering destinations in various coastal sites in central and southern California. The overwintered population of those east of the Rockies may reach as far north as Texas and Oklahoma during the spring migration. The second, third, and fourth generations return to their northern locations in the United States and Canada in the spring".
View more of Lakshitha's work:
RUNNER-UP
THOMAS VIJAYAN - FRIENDS FROM THE TIP OF THE EARTH
"Emperor Penguins have to travel a long distance to get a lead into the ocean for their food, sometimes they go tobogganing (like the penguins behind) to cover more distance in a shorter time and this makes them easier to cut through strong winds easily. This image was taken using the fish eye lens, slightly tilting the fish eye gives more of a semi circle image. That is how I could get this image".
View more of Thomas' work:
HIGHLY COMMENDED GALLERY
