British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani has captured the hearts of the public with his mesmerizing and tranquil image of a polar bear resting peacefully atop an iceberg. His photo, titled "Ice Bed", has been voted the People’s Choice Award winner in the 59th edition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition — one of the most respected and globally recognized contests in nature photography.

A Record-Breaking Public Vote

This year’s People’s Choice Award, organized by the Natural History Museum in London, witnessed a record-breaking 75,000 public votes from around the world. Sarikhani’s image stood out among 25 finalists, which were carefully selected by an international panel of judges and museum curators from a pool of nearly 50,000 entries submitted by photographers across the globe.

“Nima’s breathtaking and poignant image allows us to see the beauty and fragility of our planet,” said Dr. Douglass Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum. “His thought-provoking work serves as a stark reminder of the critical connection between wildlife and their habitats. It visually represents the devastating impact of climate change and habitat destruction.”

The Story Behind the Shot

Sarikhani spent three days navigating icy waters off the coast of Norway in search of polar bears. As the conditions changed and initial sightings were unsuccessful, the expedition vessel altered its course, heading toward more remote areas where sea ice remained. It was there that they finally encountered a pair of polar bears.

One of the bears, particularly striking in appearance, climbed onto a small iceberg around midnight under the Arctic twilight. There, the bear began to carve out a shallow hollow in the ice — effectively making itself a makeshift bed — before curling up and falling asleep.

The photograph captures not only the raw beauty of Arctic wildlife but also a sense of melancholy. It speaks to the resilience of nature, yet also to the increasing vulnerability of species affected by the planet’s rapidly changing climate.

“I am deeply honored to receive the People’s Choice Award in what is arguably the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition,” Sarikhani shared. “This image has evoked powerful emotions in many who’ve seen it. While climate change remains the greatest threat we face, I hope this photo can also inspire a sense of hope. There is still time to reverse the damage we’ve done — but only if we act now.”

Highly Commended Finalists

In addition to Sarikhani’s winning entry, four other photographs were recognized as Highly Commended by the public vote:

• “Aurora Jellies” by Audun Rikardsen (Norway) – A magical shot of jellyfish illuminated under the northern lights.

• “Shared Parenting” by Mark Boyd (Kenya) – Capturing the tender moment of lionesses caring for cubs together.

• “Starling Murmuration” by Daniel Dencescu (Germany/Romania) – A dramatic visual of starlings forming shapes in the sky.

• “The Happy Turtle” by Tzahi Finkelstein (Israel) – A humorous and charming photo of a turtle that appears to be smiling.

These images reflect the diversity and emotional power of wildlife photography, bringing viewers closer to the natural world and its wonders.

About the Contest

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. It was originally launched in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine, and the Natural History Museum became a co-organizer in 1984. Since then, the contest has grown into a premier platform for showcasing extraordinary photography that highlights biodiversity, conservation, and the planet’s most compelling wildlife stories.

Sarikhani's People’s Choice win follows the announcement of the main competition winners last fall. Now, attention turns to the 60th edition of the contest, where a new set of entries is currently under review. The winners of that competition will be revealed in October during a special awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, England.

Image Credits

All images are courtesy of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organized by the Natural History Museum. Individual photographers are credited alongside their respective photos.