2008: Animal Portraits - Highly Commended
Claudio Contreras Koob (Mexico)
Big baby nap
'I was photographing wildlife on Guadalupe Island off the coast of Mexico as part of a major scientific project, and watched this elephant seal weanling splash around in the surf and then haul up onto the beach and fall asleep. It's a dangerous time, as big, plump babies with limited swimming skills attract great white sharks.' Female elephant seals go without food while they nurse their pups. By the time the pup is weaned, its mother is starving and abandons it to go in search of food - the youngsters are left to fend for themselves. Young elephant seals must quickly learn to catch deep-water squid, octopus, fish and crabs.
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II + Canon 300mm f2.8 IS USM lens + 2x II extender EF; 1/60 sec at f10; ISO 200; Gitzo tripod.
View other winners in this category
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Adult awards Troublemaker Stefano Unterthiner
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Adult awards Curious calf Jordi Chias Pujol
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Adult awards Swallowtail salt-sipping Bill Harbin
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Adult awards Flight of the mouse-eared bat Carsten Braun
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Adult awards Owl glare Adriano Ebenriter
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Adult awards Car-park robins Andreas Byrne
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Adult awards Griffon glide-by Juan Manuel Hernández López
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Adult awards Bee-eater ballet Chris Van Rooyen
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Adult awards Grouper grab Aaron Wong
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Adult awards Angry queen Piotr Naskrecki
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