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Tony Wu's Image
Dozens of sperm whales mingled noisily off the coast, stacked as far as Tony could see. Immediately, he realised that this was something special – like a gathering of clans, these whales were part of a multi-day congregation. For Tony, the sight filled him with hope that ‘the recovery of sperm whale populations may be going well’.
The marble-like appearance of these whales is a sign of skin-sloughing. Large aggregations like this one will rub and roll against each other to exfoliate their neighbour’s dead skin, helping them to maintain hydrodynamic performance. The tactile contact also helps to reinforce social bonds.
Behind the lens
Tony Wu
USA/Japan
Tony has been documenting marine life since 1995. First were the tropical reefs of Southeast Asia, followed by long-term projects centred upon large cetaceans and spawning aggregations. He’s now devoted to the oceans of Japan, which encompass everything from tropical to Arctic environments, as well as many unique habitats in between. Tony views himself as a translator, interpreting and communicating on behalf of the underwater world by using photographs, scientific information and writing.
Image details
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- 15mm f2.8 lens
- 1/250 sec at f6.3 • ISO 800 • Zillion housing and Pro-One optical dome port
- Sri Lanka
Copyright in Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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