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Mangrove forests never looked this magical, as these award-winning 2025 photos reveal the wild beauty of nature.
Overall Winner: Birds’ Eye View Of The Hunt By Mark Ian Cook
A flock of Roseate Spoonbills glide over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the shallow, mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay.
Wildlife, Other Species, Runner-Up: Claws Of Power By Javier Aznar González De Rueda
A male Fiddler Crab (Uca sp.) performing a signal dance in the mud at sunset.
Underwater, Highly Commended: Sunset Snack By Valentina Cucchiara
A gentle manatee grazes peacefully underwater, nestled beneath the tangled roots of a mangrove forest.
Underwater, Highly Commended: Guardian Of The Underworld By Rodolphe Guignard
In Mayan culture, the crocodile is a sacred creature. It links earth, air and water. It is linked not only to nature, but also to the underworld, the place where souls wander. For the Mayans of Yucatan, cenotes are doorways to the underworld. And in mythology, the crocodile floated on the edge between the world of the living and that of the dead. This image of the crocodile, floating on the surface of this cenote, perfectly illustrates this sacred legend.
Wildlife, Other Species, Highly Commended: Crocodile Galaxy By Nicholas Hess
A pair of American Crocodiles sit before the Milky Way Galaxy in a mangrove forest in the Florida Everglades. “This image is one I’ve hoped to capture for the past 4 years living in Florida. Never whilst visiting this site did I get the chance before. But this day the stars literally aligned. At 2 AM, the Milky Way rose behind not one, but two crocodiles conducting some courting behavior. Seeing my opportunity I set up my tripod to utilize a long exposure to capture the Milky Way in my image. I then used a flash to freeze the crocodile’s subtle movement. After perfecting my settings, I shot a few images as the female appeared to circle the male and below. This one turned out to be my favorite.”
Wildlife, Other Species, Highly Commended: The Watcher And The Wanderer By Ramprasad Dutta
When giants and minnows coexist.
“In the Sundarbans, a massive crocodile rests near a tiny mudskipper. Despite the size difference, the fish shows no fear. Their contrasting colors create a rare, captivating moment in the wild.”
Wildlife, Mammals, Highly Commended: Mother’s Protection By Satyaki Naha
Wildlife, Mammals, Highly Commended: Flower Of Mangrove By Kaushik Ghosh
From The Air, Runner-Up: Dendritic By Stuart Chape
Aerial image taken from a helicopter of a tannin stained tidal creek and mixed mangrove community, NSW north coast.
From The Air, Highly Commended: Guardians Of The Shoreline By Jeff Thamert
Mangroves in the mist.
“As Dawn breaks over Florida’s east coast, golden rays pierce the early morning mist, revealing the intricate beauty of the Indian River Lagoon below. Captured by drone, this aerial view showcases a delicate estuarine ecosystem protected by winding shorelines of resilient mangrove trees-nature’s guardians that shelter a vast diversity of wildlife, In the distance, the Kennedy Space Center reminds us that just beyond this peaceful refuge, humanity reaches for the stars. This image celebrates the harmony between natural wonder and scientific ambition, both grounded in the same fragile world.”
Conservation And Restoration, Highly Commended: Protecting The Protectors By Jason Florio
As part of FAO’s FISH4ACP program, the Gambian Navy teaches oyster harvesters to swim—giving women lifesaving skills and reducing drowning risks in the mangroves. Most had never learned to swim. These women play a vital role in protecting mangroves from illegal deforestation, safeguarding ecosystems that store up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests and are crucial in fighting climate change.
Conservation And Restoration, Highly Commended: Cleaning Up The Coast By Gerdie Hutomo
In Jakarta, Indonesia, a huge amount of rubbish, particularly plastic waste, is ending up in mangrove areas.
“A worker is cleaning the never ending rubbish in a mangrove restoration plot.”
Livelihoods, Highly Commended: Home By Valentin Giebel
Pak Umar in the mangroves that protect his home.
“I had the privilege to meet Pak Umar a few months ago. A proud Bajau man who understands the importance of the mangroves for his home and fights for their preservation. The mangroves themselves are an extension of his personality and rich heritage.”
Underwater, Winner: Low Tide On Hermit Crab Island By Alex Pike
While Clibanarius taeniatus is one of Australia’s more common hermit crab species, very little is known about it and I’m not sure it even has a common name.
Wildlife, Mammals, Runner-Up: Scent Marking Went Wrong By Trikansh Sharma
Sundarbans is a challenging place because Tiger territories keep submerging into water every six hours according to the moon cycle. While there is a myth among people that Tigers do not do scent/territory markings here because they lose the mark in water very quickly, I was lucky to photograph this rare behavior in mangroves. Only funny part was, the entire urine went on the subadult Tiger’s face.
Threats, Highly Commended: Cracked Earth By Muhammad Amdad Hossain
A determined woman and her grandson collect water from the last remnants of a drought-stricken landscape in Shyamnagar, Khulna. Despite living near a river, they walk 2–3 km daily to find drinkable water due to salinity intrusion, a result of rising sea levels and reduced rainfall affecting the coastal mangrove community.
People Livelihoods, Winner: Bhoben Biseash And His Otters By Freddie Claire
The otters get their reward for a busy morning of fishing.
Young Mangrove Photographer Of The Year, Highly Commended: Mud Serpent By Nitiroj Boonsai
Dog-faced watersnake (Cerberus schneiderii) finding prey when the tide gets low.
Wildlife, Mammals, Winner: A Snack In The Mangrove Forest By Satwika Satria
A young proboscis monkey enjoys an avicennia fruit amidst the dense mangrove forest. “This juvenile proboscis monkey is seen savoring an Avicennia fruit it found. The avicennia fruit is one of the primary food sources for proboscis monkeys. This image highlights the vital role of mangrove ecosystems in supporting the survival of this endangered species.”
Wildlife, Other Species, Highly Commended: Until The Night Falls By Mark Whiten
In the stillness of the Malaysian mangroves, a reticulated python lies motionless in the crook of a tree branch. Hidden in plain sight beneath glossy green leaves, it waits out the heat of the day, conserving energy for the cover of night—when the forest awakens and the hunt begins.
Threats, Runner-Up: Trapped In Shadows By Daphne Wong
A poignant reminder of the dangers lurking in our coastal ecosystems: multiple horseshoe crabs find themselves ensnared in a ghost net that became stuck within the mangroves, highlighting the urgent need for action against marine debris, both in the ocean and on our coastlines.
Threats, Highly Commended: Prawn Aquaculture By Stuart Chape
As in other parts of the world, mangrove ecosystems in Australia are sometimes converted to aquaculture production.
Landscape From The Air, Winner: Mangroves And Modernity By Ahmed Badwan
The harmonious blend of mangrove nature with the modernity of the city — a captivating contrast where urban innovation meets the timeless rhythm of the wild.
From The Air, Highly Commended: The Floating Village By Max Terwindt
Aerial image of a Thai floating village in between mangrove landscapes.
Underwater, Highly Commended: Blacktip Reef Shark In The Mangroves By Kiliii Yuyan
A juvenile blacktip reef shark swims in its mangrove lagoon nursery in Palau.
Wildlife, Birds, Runner-Up: Mangrove Trees: A Safe Haven And Natural Rest Stop For Migratory Birds On Their Seasonal Journey By Ibrahim Alshwamin
In the Jazan region, mangrove trees are vital coastal habitats that provide a rich food environment for migratory flamingos. These birds feed on algae and small invertebrates like crustaceans and plankton in the shallow waters. The mangroves offer a safe refuge, shielding them from disturbances and predators—making them an ideal rest stop during migration and a key contributor to biodiversity along Saudi Arabia’s coastlines.
Wildlife, Birds, Highly Commended: Patience By Nicholas Hess
A Pacific Reef Heron hunts a school of fish from a mangrove branch in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. “This branch was a favorite hunting site of the local reef herons. I observed this individual’s behavior and wanted a shot of both the fish beneath the surface and the bird above. It was challenging to compose with the moving water surface, and the school of fish were quite dynamic. After patience on my part for the fish and bird to line up, and on the part of the bird as it hunted patiently, I managed to capture the image with the school of fish near the front, and the bird in a dynamic moment. I like this image because it so clearly demonstrates the existence of mangroves as the threshold between water and land. Here, the mangrove branch provides a perch for the bird, and protection for the fish.”
Wildlife, Birds, Highly Commended: Pyramid Of Scaup By Mark Ian Cook
Part of a massive flock of diving ducks (primarily Lesser Scaup) apexing momentarily into an odd pyramidal shape in one of the mangrove-lined coastal lakes of Everglades National Park.
Wildlife, Other Species, Highly Commended: The Sunset March By Emanuele Biggi
Mudskippers (Periophthalmus chrysospilos) march and feed together along the shore, following the tide. Kubah National Park, Borneo Island, Sarawak, Malaysia.
People ,conservation And Restoration , Winner: Mangrove Honey Bees Make Land By Ian Rock
After a winding route through many narrow canals, fisherman Manuel carries a heavy bee hive off a boat to its new home within the buffer zone of the Terraba-Sierpe mangrove forest, the start of a new mangrove honey project for the community.
Livelihoods, Runner-Up: Crab Gatherer By Danilo O. Victoriano Jr
Bakhawan Eco-Park in Kalibo, Aklan is a powerful story of nature’s revival and community resilience. Once a polluted shoreline, it has transformed into a thriving 220-hectare mangrove forest—protecting against climate threats and sustaining local livelihoods. This award-winning eco-park now stands as a symbol of hope, where families like the father and son in this photo enjoy the bounty of restored ecosystems.
Livelihoods, Highly Commended: Protector Of Childhood By Jumelito S. Capilot
Mangroves don’t just protect coastlines—they protect childhoods.
Conservation And Restoration, Highly Commended: Hieroglyph By Callie Chee
A fisherman meandering through the baby mangroves that resemble musical notes when viewed from afar.
Underwater, Runner-Up: Netted Sulawesi Scene By Renee Capozzola
Half and half scene of mangroves, cardinalfish, and ghost net.
Emirates Award, Highly Commended: Mangrove Escape By Ahmed Badwan
A leisurely escape through the tranquil mangrove channels of Abu Dhabi — where calm waters, winding paths, and the gentle rustle of leaves create a perfect harmony between adventure and nature.
Wildlife, Birds, Winner: Avian Impressionism By Mark Ian Cook
Blue-winged Teal create ephemeral artwork as they dabble for food in the chai-coloured shallows of Florida Bay, Florida.
Wildlife, Mammals, Highly Commended: The Silent Sentinel Of The Mangroves By Tanmoy Das Karmakar
In the heart of the Sundarbans, the elusive Jungle Cat awakens with a powerful yawn — revealing nature’s sharp edge amid the tangled roots and tidal waters of the mangrove wilderness.
Wildlife, Other Species, Highly Commended: Tidewalker By Vydehi Kadur
Amid the tangle of mangrove roots on Havelock Island in the Andaman archipelago, India, a mudskipper (Periophthalmus sp.) rests between the arching roots of a Rhizophora mangrove tree. Perfectly adapted to an amphibious life, mudskippers use their pectoral fins to “walk” on land, while their protruding eyes scan both sky and water for predators. Thriving at the edge of two worlds, these remarkable fish are synonymous with the mangrove ecosystem.
Threats, Highly Commended: Growth Or Proliferation? By Vidyasagar Hariharan
Lesser flamingos during sunrise in a Navi Mumbai wetland lake with cut mangrove trees and a building’s reflection in the water. “During winter, thousands of lesser and greater Flamingos visit Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and stay on till the monsoon starts. In one of the wetland lakes in Navi Mumbai, mangroves were cut, and this was brought to public attention at large. Here, a group of Flamingos can be seen near a mangrove that has been cut, with the reflection of an adjoining high-rise that looms large. Is it growth or proliferation?”
From The Air, Highly Commended: Veins Of Resilience By Karim Iliya
From above, the mangroves of Magdalena Bay resemble green lifelines threading through the desert—an ecosystem defying expectations.
Conservation And Restoration, Highly Commended: Mangrove Guardians By Sushil Chikane
Few lucky mangroves in India have been notified as protected areas. With the ever expanding human activities these parks will eventually be the last refuge for wildlife. Safeguarding these parks is a crucial responsibility. And this job is best done by the ground guards. In the image is a forest guard patrolling the coastline of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
Conservation And Restoration, Highly Commended: Empowering The Next Generation By Jaime Singlador
A Green Guardian educating the young students towards their journey into mangrove conservation, from seed propagation to replanting.
Threats, Highly Commended: Breaking The Ban Fishing In The Sundarbans Buffer Zone By Kingshuk Partha
In the restricted waters of the Shibsha River in Khulna, Bangladesh, fishers defy seasonal bans, casting illegal nets in the Sundarbans buffer zone. This striking aerial view reveals the tension between survival and conservation in a climate-vulnerable region, underscoring the need for sustainable, community-driven solutions.