Incredible picture of polar bear snoozing atop an iceberg is a winner

As midnight approaches in Svalbard, a young man Polar bear One climbs onto an iceberg and makes himself a makeshift bed before going to sleep. Encapsulating the essence of the fragility of the earth, this quiet moment was captured by Neema Sarkhani, who this year Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice AwardWhich is decided by public votes.

Sirkhani, from the UK, spent three days exploring Norway’s Svalbard archipelago in the hope of catching a glimpse of these famous arctic animals. After her adventure ship decided to change course, she was finally blessed with the sight of both an old and a young man. Sarkhani seized the opportunity to photograph a cub falling on an iceberg – a scene that not only evokes the connection between an animal and its habitat, but also works on global challenges such as climate change and habitat loss. There is also a need to do.

These days, the sighting of a lone polar bear as the ice melts is a familiar sign of the effects of climate change. But there’s a good reason: Global warming is having an especially rapid impact in the Arctic, which is warming three times faster than the worldwide average. Among the most affected are polar bears, which are increasingly threatened by the loss of sea ice cover on which they rely for hunting and raising their young.

Although his shot is meant to evoke emotion in those who watch it, Sarkhani is optimistic that it will ultimately inspire hope that with the right measures, it won’t be too late for polar bears. will be shown in figure one exhibition At the Natural History Museum, London, with the competition’s four runners-up, until June 30.