Wildlife Photographer of the Year Returns to ROM with 100 Must-See Images from Around the World

TORONTO, October 29, 2025 – A ghostly backlit shot of a rare hyena in an abandoned mining town. An extreme close-up of eerie insects that appear rather alien-like. An underwater image of eels at low tide that on first glance looks almost like an oil painting.

These are just a few of the 100 images visitors will encounter in the 2025 edition of the world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) exhibition as it makes its North American debut at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) on November 8, 2025, running until March 29, 2026. 

Now in its 61st year, the acclaimed fan-favourite exhibition from the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London highlights the unique and symbiotic relationship between photography, science, and art.

The all-new photographs on display at ROM will include the powerful hyena image taken in Namibia, which topped the competition – Ghost Town Visitor by South Africa’s Wim van den Heever, named Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 – and After the Destruction by Italy’s Andrea Dominizi, announced as the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for his shot, which tells a poignant tale of habitat loss in the mountains of central Italy. 

Canadian winners in this year’s exhibition include 2024 Grand Title winner Shane Gross, whose detailed Like an Eel out of Water – which captures peppered moray eels hunting for carrion at low tide – won in the Animals in Their Environment category. Also in the competition’s 15–17 Years category are two “highly commended” images – Beckett Robertson’s Cave Stalker, a spooky shot of a cave-dwelling amblypygid (a type of arachnid also known as a whip-spider) in the Dominican Republic; and two entries by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas: Red Alert, focusing on a ladybird spider’s distinctive red abdomen, and Long Jaws Locked, an astonishing close-up of two mating long-jawed orb weavers. 

A perennial must-see exhibition for ROM visitors, WPY’s winter return marks the 13th year in a row the Museum has exhibited images from the prestigious global photography contest. The November opening at ROM marks the internationally touring exhibition’s first North American stop of the year.

“Long a visitor favourite, Wildlife Photographer of the Year makes its much-anticipated return to ROM with 100 stunning new images of the natural world,” says Josh Basseches, ROM Director & CEO. “From gorgeous landscapes to intimate animal portraits, Wildlife Photographer of the Year captures the sweeping majesty of nature – and the urgent need to safeguard it.” 

Every photo is accompanied by a description in the photographer’s own words, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the dramatic tales behind how each image was captured. Reading the accompanying stories, visitors are often deeply moved by the evident passion and reverence these photographers have for the natural world – and their acute understanding of climate change, biodiversity loss, and human impact on ecosystems.

“Through technical skill, dedication, and maybe a bit of luck, these photographs brilliantly illuminate the natural world that we inhabit,” says Dr. Soren Brothers, Allan and Helaine Shiff Curator of Climate Change and ROM curator for the exhibition. “In many cases, they offer not only insights into the lives of others, but also a reminder of how humans and nature can support each other for a better shared future.”

The inspiring and powerful images of our natural world spotlighted in WPY are selected by an international panel of expert judges from across the disciplines of wildlife photography, filmmaking, science and conservation. Submissions to the competition – which is open to photographers of all ages and experience levels – were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality, and technical excellence.

“How fitting that the winning 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. I also love the twist on this interpretation of ‘urban’ – it was once but is no longer a human-dominated environment,” says Kathy Moran, Chair of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Jury. “Abandoned by miners, wildlife has taken over. Repopulated, if you will. Is it still a town? It would seem that way to me – but just no longer ours.”

Membership
ROM Members will have the first opportunity to experience Wildlife Photographer of the Year on Friday, November 7, and Saturday, November 8, until noon. Tickets to WPY are free for Members. Visit joinROM.ca for more information about ROM membership.

ROM Photo Contest
Ontario photographers with keen observations of the natural environment are invited to participate in the ROM Wildlife Photo Contest. Open to both adults and youth, amateurs and professionals, those inspired by nature can share their captivating images for a chance to win prizes from Henry’s and the honour of displaying the winning work at ROM. Watch for full contest details in Watch for full contest details at rom.ca/contest. 

Exhibition credit
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.