Happy feat: Penguin photo wins top award at Wildlife Photographer of Year

Paul Nicklen took the photo near the emperor colony at the edge of the frozen area of the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Paul Nicklen/ Veolia

Little wonder this penguin’s in a flap... there’s a hungry leopard seal on its tail in the Antarctic.
Another one of Paul Nicklen’s penguin photos won him the top award at the Wildlife Photographer of Year last night.
Sponsored by Veolia, it is regarded as the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition and exhibition.
Mr Nicklen took his penguin shots near the emperor colony at the edge of the frozen area of the Ross Sea, Antarctica.

 

Paul Nicklen/ Veolia

 He said: "It was a fantastic sight as hundreds launched themselves out of the water and onto the ice above me – a moment that I felt incredibly fortunate to witness and one I’ll never forget."
Other top snaps included an eagle fighting off a fox and a polar bear on an ice floe.
100 winning images will be on show at the Natural History Museum in London until March 2013.
The photos will also go on a UK and international tour.

View gallery

Paul Nicklen/ Veolia

• "
• "
• "
• "
• "
• "
• "
• "
• "
• "