The winners of the 11th annual Mangrove Photography Awards (MPA) have been announced. The contest, hosted by the U.S.-based Mangrove Action Project, showcases powerful photographic narratives highlighting the importance of one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. This year, a record-breaking 3,300 entries from 78 countries entered to win in one of six categories: wildlife, people, landscapes and threats, as well as underwater and conservation stories. The 2025 overall winner features an aerial view of a roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) flock flying above a lemon shark hunting mullet in Florida Bay’s shallow waters. “Birds’ eye view of the hunt.” Image courtesy of Mark Ian Cook/MPA. About the photo, contest judge Shin Arunrugstichai said in a statement: “What a scene! I love the convergence of all the elements in that exact moment. It clearly shows the diversity of life that … depends on the mangrove ecosystem.” The “wildlife” category features images of crocodiles and crabs that one might expect, but also more elusive animals including tigers (Panthera tigris) in India’s Sundarbans, a proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) in Indonesia and fireflies in the Philippines. One of the most heart-warming photos features a mother jungle cat (Felis chaus) snuggling her cub in the Indian Sundarbans. “Mother’s protection.” Image courtesy of Satyaki Naha/MPA. The winning image in the “threats” category by photographer Tom Quinney shows an enormous pile of waste hovering behind a struggling mangrove forest in Bali. “In the past, a major fire burned through the rubbish here, and to this day the…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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