The European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 awards, presented by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT), have crowned their winners, showcasing exceptional talent and dedication to capturing the essence of the natural world.

In a triumph of visual storytelling, Spanish photographer Javier Aznar González de Rueda emerged as the top laureate this year. His winning photograph, ‘Maternal Care,’ offers a poignant glimpse into the intricate world of nature, portraying a mother stink bug tenderly tending to her brood. Aznar González de Rueda’s lens not only captures the beauty of the moment but also underscores the importance of understanding natural history, advocating for wildlife conservation, and exploring the profound connection between humanity and the environment. Through his work, he illuminates the delicate balance and nurturing spirit that define the animal kingdom, reminding us of the marvels that exist within our natural surroundings.

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#1. Overall Winner: Maternal Care by Javier Aznar González de Rueda

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

In Ecuador’s largest protected area, Yasuní National Park, I was able to observe maternal care behaviour in the stink bug Antiteuchus tripterusover a two week period. The female bug guarded its clutch of eggs on a small branch. This behaviour has been reported for other true bug species. To my surprise, it turned out that the mother bug not only protected the eggs but also the newly hatched larvae up to their first moult. In Ecuador’s rainforest, the stink bug’s brood is vulnerable to attack by numerous predators and parasitoids such as ichneumon wasps. Maternal care significantly increases the offspring’s chances of survival. The rainforest is ahighly complex ecosystem with countless organisms in a vast interconnected web of life.

#2. Birds: Winner – Bird in Forest by Csaba Daroczi

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#3. Mammals: Winner – Last Dance? by Jens Cullmann

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#4. Other Animals: Winner – Water Ballet by Marjan Artnak

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#5. Plants and Fungi: Winner – Lichen Dinner by Roberto Bueno

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#6. Landscapes: Winner – Volcanic Swirls by Joel Delmas

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#7. Underwater World: Winner – Nighttime Squadron by Catherine Holmes

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#8. Man and Nature: Winner – Lost at Sea by Angel Fitor

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#9. Nature´s Studio: Winner – Secret of the Mediterranean by Bruno D’Amicis

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#10. Young Photographers to 14 Years: Winner – Tightrope Artist by Alberto Roman Gomez

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#11. Young Photographers to 14 Years: Runnr Up – Conops Quadrifasciatus by Mattia Terreo

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#12. Young Photographer 15 to 17 Years: Winner – Wave by Luca Lorenz

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#13. Young Photographer 15 to 17 Years: Runner Up – Golden Hour by Anton Trexter

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#14. Fritz Pölking Prize by Jasper Doest

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#15. Fritz Pölking Junior Prize by Mateusz Piesiak

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#16. Birds: Runner Up – Silence by Jan Piecha

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#17. Mammals: Runner Up – Calm as Millpond by Ilkka Niskanen

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#18. Other Animals: Runner Up – Nest building by Solvin Zankl

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#19. Plants and Fungi: Runner Up – Defeated by Roberto Garcia Roa

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#20. Landscapes: Runner Up – Paradise by Florian Smit

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#21. Underwater World: Runner Up – Flamenco pose by Magnus Lundgren

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#22. Man and Nature: Runner Up – Wrapped up by Marella

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#23. Nature´s Studio: Runner Up – Transformation by Andrés Basilio Sagarna

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#24. Birds: Highly Commended – Cannibalism by Andrés Miguel Domínguez

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners

#25. Mammals: Rain graphic by Sergey Gorshkov

European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 Winners


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