BIAZA Photo Competition 2025 - the winners!

Secret lives in zoos and aquariums have revealed in BIAZA's annual photography competition. 

• A playful rhino and a penguin optical illusion – stunning new animal photography reveals the incredible world of wildlife at zoos and aquariums.
• Out of five hundred entries, twelve photos have been announced as the winners and runners up in the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ annual Photography Competition.  
• The charity aims to shine a spotlight on the work of zoos and aquariums in caring for and conserving the most incredible species on earth.  

Out of the depths of one of Britain’s largest aquarium habitats stalks the powerful grey reef shark, while water voles and adders slither in the British countryside. These are some of the stories illuminated by the winners of a zoo and aquarium photo competition. The talented photographers offer an exclusive look into the fascinating lives of animals.

Run by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the twelve winners and runners up feature photographs from across modern conservation zoos and aquariums – from Edinburgh to Brighton, from an inquisitive sloth, a fatherly frog to a mischievous rhino. 

Over five-hundred entries were received in the competition across five categories, including a new native species category. This category highlights the incredible nature on our doorstep, being supported by zoos and aquariums. Over recent years BIAZA zoos and aquariums have been restoring native species as diverse as harvest mice, beavers, wildcats, toads and even leeches, as part of efforts to make Britain and Ireland wilder places.  

Dr Jo Judge, the CEO of BIAZA said: “After a rigorous selection process, we are proud to showcase photography which demonstrates not only the wonder of wildlife, but the vital work of our member zoos and aquariums in welfare and conservation.” 

Dr Judge added “We’re grateful to everyone who entered the competition and those who voted in our new native species category. We believe these talented wildlife photographers have the power to inspire environmental change.”

Over 130 BIAZA member zoos and aquariums contribute to the restoration of nature by undertaking 1236 conservation projects, 1280 research projects and 1.1 million educational visits in the last year alone. They have collectively spent over 150 million pounds on conservation since 2020. 

The twelve winning photos will be featured on BIAZA’s 2026 calendar, which will also contain dates for nature-lovers; from Penguin Awareness Day to David Attenborough’s birthday. Follow BIAZA on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know when it will be available.  

Mammal Category

WINNER – Zoe Brown |‘Playing with the Birds’ | Chester Zoo

Photographer Zoe Brown managed to capture the brief moment in which Chester Zoo’s young black rhino, Lumi, playfully charged at a group of starlings. 

RUNNER UP - Alistair Cryer  |’Just Hanging Around’ | Edinburgh Zoo

Sloth like Nico from Edinburgh Zoo can on occasion be surprisingly active. Nico represents the largest of the six sloth species, the Linné’s two-toed sloth, which can reach 11kg. 

Bird Category

WINNER – Bernard Catterall  | ‘Which Way Up?’ | Blair Drummond Safari Park

This optical illusion effect was captured during some unique winter lighting at Blair Drummond Safari Park, Scotland, with the ripples producing a surprisingly clear penguin reflection. 

RUNNER UP - Josh Dennington  | ‘Royal Fluff’ | Colchester Zoo

As a fledgeling, this king vulture was only spending brief moments outdoors at Colchester Zoo, during which Josh Dennington photographed it through the gap in the trees. Deriving from South America, king vultures grow to have distinct and colourful faces.  

Fish Category

WINNER – Jamie Smart | ‘Out of the Blue’ | The Deep 

The Deep aquarium’s Endless Ocean exhibit contains 2.5 million litres of water and 87 tonnes of salt, housing species like turtles, rays, sawfish and of course, sharks.  

RUNNER UP - Jessamyn Reddy | ‘Mouthful of Miracles’ | National Marine Aquarium

Banggai Cardinalfish fathers brood their young in their mouths, visible in the photo. Classed as Endangered due to overfishing and habitat destruction, these fish are sadly vanishing from their Indonesian home range. Breeding programmes in aquariums around the world are therefore essential to their survival. 

Reptile and Amphibian category

WINNER – Jacques Moret | ‘Watching the Crowd’ | Colchester Zoo

Koro the male Fiji Banded Iguana perched nicely on the branch for this photo. These Endangered iguanas live in the trees of the Lau Islands, Fiji, watching over their territory from on high. 

RUNNER UP – Phil Mumby | ‘Hitching a Ride’ | RZSS Edinburgh Zoo

The Edinburgh Zoo team had long been hoping for Trinidad Stream Frog tadpoles. When the zoo’s Senior Interpretation Officer Phil had been tasked with getting some images for a new sign, he was surprised by a male frog with two tadpoles on its back. In this particular shot, the female in the background highlights the unusual sexual dimorphism of this species - the slightly drab male frog framed against a brightly coloured female.  

Invertebrate Category

WINNER - Amber Rainsford | ‘Emerald of the Forest Floors’ | ZSL London Zoo

A flamboyant flower beetle displaying his Y shaped horn used to spar with other males. This vibrant green beetle lives in the Tiny Giants building at London Zoo, which features some of the world’s most captivating invertebrates and the UK’s only exotic spider walkthrough.   

RUNNER UP- Luke Capeling | ‘The Deep’ | SEA LIFE Brighton

Living up to its name, the common octopus can be found around the world’s coastal seas, including the British Isles. This one was photographed at Brighton SEA LIFE Aquarium, which has been continually operating since 1872. 

Native Species Category

WINNER - Rebekah Weatherhead | ‘Hidden Treasure’ | RSPB Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire

Populations of water voles in the UK have been in decline. Rebekah Weatherhead has therefore spent hours watching and learning about Water Voles in the chalk streams near Cambridge to raise awareness for her favourite British mammal. 

RUNNER UP - Amelia Harvey | ‘Basking in the Bracken’ | Eryri National Park

Adders are a rare find in the British Isles. Amelia found this one in the spring sun, prior to what would be a vital breeding season in Wales’ Eryri National Park. Despite being Britain’s only venomous snake, they pose little threat to humans.  

Specially Commended

James Brett | ‘That Monday Feeling!’ | Fenn Bell Conservation Project

Binturong are also known as bearcats but are neither bears nor cats. They are tree-dwelling mammals called viverrids from South America, famed for their popcorn scent.  

Jamie Smart | ‘Royal Bow’ | Yorkshire Wildlife Park