2005: Behaviour: Mammals - Winner
Kristin J Mosher (United States of America)
Termite catching
Kristin Mosher was following the five-year-old chimpanzee twins, Glitter and Goldi, while they foraged in Tanzania's Gombe National Park. As the twins crested a grassy slope, they suddenly dashed excitedly to a tree ahead and climbed it. Kristin watched in astonishment at the scene that unfolded. 'Winged termites were swarming in the canopy, something I'd never seen before,' she said. 'Usually the chimps stand on the ground and catch them as they crawl out of mounds. So when the twins started to grab recklessly at the cloud of flying termites, I knew it was special.' Here, Glitter balances precariously at the top of the tree, snatching them out of the air. 'To me, the image is powerfully symbolic,' says Kristin. 'It reflects the condition of the whole species - teetering on the edge of extinction.'
Canon EOS-1N with 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 IS Ultrasonic zoom lens;1/100 sec at f6.3; Fujichrome Provia 100F.
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Adult awards Tiger play Elliott Neep
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Adult awards Snow trails Yukihiro Fukuda
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Adult awards Mistaken identity Michel Denis-Huot
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Adult awards Japanese macaque eating cherry blossom Yukihiro Fukuda
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