For almost 10 years I have been visiting Kolmanskoppe in Namibia.
This abandoned Ghost Town that used to be a diamond mine is slowly being reclaimed by the harsh Namib desert. From day one I have always dreamt about a photograph of an elusive and endangered Brown Hyena prowling the abandoned streets at night.
I only once saw a set of Hyena footprints next to the ruins, but I knew the area is known for fairly good Brown Hyena activity.
I spoke to the security guard at the entrance of the Ghost Town about the frequency of sightings within the Ghost Town. He told me that they pass through every 4 to 6 weeks on average so I knew there was always going to be a possibility.
Every single time I visited the Ghost Town I’d set up camera traps in the hope of success.
It took me 10 years to finally get this one single image of a Brown Hyena in the most perfect frame imaginable.
I was ecstatic when I finally had success.
LONDON — South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever has been crowned the 61st annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his evocative image, Ghost Town Visitor, a haunting portrait of a brown hyena in an abandoned Namibian diamond mining town.
The winning photograph, taken in Kolmanskop, Namibia, is a powerful study of how nature reclaims and interacts with derelict urban spaces. It captures a rare brown hyena—the rarest hyena species in the world—amidst the skeletal remains of the long-abandoned town.
For van den Heever, the victory is a testament to extraordinary determination. After first noticing the animal’s tracks at the site, it took the photographer a full decade of patience and the strategic use of camera trap technology to finally capture the single, prize-winning shot.
The nocturnal and solitary brown hyenas are known to pass through Kolmanskop while hunting Cape fur seal pups or scavenging carrion along the Namib Desert coast. Since they are so rarely seen, camera trap technology provides a vital way for scientists to monitor their behavior and better understand the species.
‘The Wild Reclaiming Human Civilisation’
Jury members praised the image for its multi-layered narrative and chilling atmosphere.
Kathy Moran, chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury, commented on the striking setting. “How fitting that this photograph was made in a ghost town. You get a prickly feeling just looking at this image and you know that you’re in this hyena’s realm,” she said. Moran noted the powerful twist on an “urban” environment: “Abandoned by miners, wildlife has taken over. Repopulated, if you will. Is it still a town — it would seem that way to me — just no longer ours.”
Jury member Akanksha Sood Singh described the photo as an “eerie juxtaposition of the wild reclaiming human civilisation.” She added, “The image is haunting yet mesmerising because the solitary hyena takes centre stage as a symbol of resilience amid the decay. This picture is a multi-layered story of loss, resilience and the natural world’s silent triumph.”
Habitat Loss and Conservation Hope
Alongside the top prize, the competition recognized other outstanding photographers and conservation stories.
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025
The prestigious Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to Andrea Dominizi, the first Italian to win the award for photographers aged 17 and under.
Dominizi won for his image, After the Destruction, a poignant photograph that highlights the devastating effects of habitat loss. The image spotlights a longhorn beetle, which plays a crucial role in nutrient recycling in the forest, set against abandoned machinery in the heavily logged Lepini Mountains of central Italy.
“An image filled with as much narrative and importance as it is with detail,” said jury member Andy Parkinson. “A compelling, but harrowing photograph, it’s one that encourages the viewer to contemplate the nature of this fraught relationship.”
Impact Award 2025 Spotlights Giant Anteater Protection
The competition’s second-ever Impact Award, which recognizes a conservation success or story of hope, was given to Brazilian photographer Fernando Faciole for his image, Orphan of the Road.
The photograph spotlights an orphaned giant anteater pup following its caregiver at a rehabilitation center. The pup’s mother was killed by a vehicle, a leading cause of the decline in giant anteater numbers in Brazil. The hope is that the pup will be released back into the wild after developing crucial survival skills with its caregiver.
This image highlights the critical work of projects like the Wild Animal Conservation Institute’s Anteaters and Highways project, which is developing strategies to reduce road deaths through measures like erecting fences and building underground tunnels for safe crossing.
Jury member Hans Cosmas Ngoteya said, “The anteater depicted in this image symbolises many endangered animals that require our assistance. These animals, without the ability to express themselves verbally, rely on us to ensure their protection and care. This image conveys that message effectively.”
The Natural History Museum said that the category winners, as well as the full 100 images selected for the competition’s portfolio, “were selected anonymously by an international panel of experts across the disciplines of wildlife photography, filmmaking, conservation and science. The images were selected for their originality, technical excellence, and creativity.”
The 19 category winners across young and adult categories are:
10 Years and Under: Jamie Smart (UK)
11 – 14 Years: Lubin Godin (France)
15 – 17 Years: Andrea Dominizi (Italy)
Animals in their Environment: Shane Gross (Canada)
Animal Portraits: Philipp Egger (Italy)
Behaviour: Birds – Qingrong Yang (China)
Behaviour: Mammals – Dennis Stogsdill (USA)
Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles – Quentin Martinez (France)
