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In Kolsa, Tadoba, India, photographer Anirudh Laxmipathy catches the blink-and-youll-miss-it moment that a powerful tigress named Kuwani lunges at an unsuspecting wild boar. At age 14, Kuwani still boasts impressive hunting skills and the boar doesnt stand a chance. Laxmipathys stunning image (seen above) took Special Mention honors in the Animal Behavior category of this years Nature inFocus Photography Awards. The competition drew a record-breaking 14,180 entries from 42 countries and awarded winners across multiple categories, including Animal Behaviour and Conservation Photography. Supun Dilshan nabbed the prestigious title of Photographer of the Year Portfolio for his powerful series (two images seen below) documenting the struggles of Sri Lankan elephants. Its heartbreaking to see development at loggerheads with the places these wild animals call home, Anish Andheria, President of Wildlife Conservation Trust, said in a statement. Their habitat is already shrinking at an alarming rate due to multiple anthropogenic factors. But with the rise of linear infrastructure, especially in regions like India and Sri Lanka, were only going to see more of these come up. This is one of the greatest threats to wildlife today.Trapped Between WorldsWinner, Photographer of the Year PortfolioAs Sri Lankas wild elephants lose their habitats, can they survive in a human-dominated landscape?Credit: Supun Dilshan / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 Trapped Between WorldsWinner, Photographer of the Year PortfolioCredit: Supun Dilshan / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 To view the full gallery of wildlife images, visit Nature inFocus.Deadly GraspSpecial Mention, Animal PortraitsA wasp spider holds its struggling prey, its intricate web a trap woven with precision. Captured with a custom-built CCTV macro lens, this image offers an intimate, wide-angle view of a hunter at work.Location: Lucerne, SwitzerlandCredit: Roman Willi / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 Roman WilliThe Water WalkerSpecial Mention, Animal PortraitsIn November 2021, on the banks of the Indus, the photographer was met with an unexpected sight. After an unsuccessful attempt at hunting Bharal, a snow leopard paused to rest before making a bold movecrossing the river and vanishing into the rugged mountains. For a brief moment, the elusive ghost of the Himalayas revealed itself.Location: Hemya, LadakhCredit: Surya Ramachandran / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 !K>0OE>TGSymmetrySpecial Mention, Animal PortraitsFor years, a quiet pool has been the setting for countless bird encounters. One autumn, a photographer dedicated weeks to observing cranes, approaching only under the cover of night to avoid disturbance. On a morning when the forecast promised perfection, the rising sun remained hidden, its light diffused by mist. The cranes, enveloped in this ethereal glow, stood in perfect harmony against the backdrop.Location: Northern PolandCredit: Lukasz Gwizdziel / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 ukasz GwidzielDesert DuelSpecial Mention, Animal BehaviourIn the arid expanse of Rajasthan, two spiny-tailed lizards engage in a battle of strength and strategy.Location: Tal Chhapar, RajasthanCredit: Pradyut Kumar Das / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 PRADYUT DASTime to runSpecial Mention, Animal BehaviourMobulas scatter in all directions as a killer whale cuts through their ranks, looking for its next meal. In the chaos, the photographer becomes part of the frenzy, feeling the brush of fins as the rays rush past.Location: Baja California Sur, MexicoCredit: Merche Llobera / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024Crowned by NatureRunner-up, Animal PortraitsIn the still waters of Wilpattu National Park, a water buffalo rises from its swim, crowned with a garland of floating weeds. This fleeting adornment adds an unexpected touch of elegance to the buffalos rugged presence.Location: Wilpattu National Park, SriLankaCredit: Prashanthan Yogendranathan / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 Tangled MealSpecial Mention, Young PhotographerA sea turtle glides through vibrant blue waters, its beak wrapped around a delicate jellyfish. The jellyfishs long tentacles resemble strands of spaghetti, adding to the visual drama of this underwater encounteran age-old dance between predator and prey.Location: Koh Losin, ThailandCredit: Tinnapat Netcharussaeng / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 pun punEscaping the SmokeSpecial Mention, Young PhotographerMidday in the savanna, a leopardess named Kazuri rested in the shade before climbing a hill to scan for prey. As she moved toward a tree, a perfectly positioned frame captured her against a smoky backdrop, creating a striking and dramatic scene.Location: Masai Mara National Reserve, KenyaCredit: Seyan Hirani / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024 He Looks to the Heavens Winner, Wildscape & Animals in Their HabitatHigh in the Andean mountains of Ecuador, Tony, a large male Spectacled Bear, sought refuge from the midday heat in the embrace of a century-old fig tree. Draped in Spanish moss, the tree swayed gently with the rhythm of the canyons breath. As a light rain began to fall, he stood and turned his face skyward, as if welcoming the cool relief.Location: Andean Mountains, EcuadorCredit: Jacquie Matechuk / Nature inFocus Photography Awards 2024