Robert Irwin celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday 1 December by launching the Crikey! Magazine Competition Gallery, showcasing the impact of photography in advocating for conservation and environmental awareness.
For over half a decade, Australia Zoo’s Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition has celebrated wildlife conservation through photography. Each year, thousands of passionate photographers contribute their images, highlighting the rich diversity of life on earth.
Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin said, as always, the winners were chosen from thousands of entries from around the world.
“Every year, we are impressed by the extraordinary images submitted for the Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition that recognise the beauty found within the natural world,“ said Robert.
“I am thrilled that these award-winning images are now on display at Australia Zoo for visitors to admire. We hope that these incredible images not only provide the means to encourage a greater appreciation for our natural world, but inspire action to preserve it for generations to come, “ he said.
Australia Zoo received a high calibre of entries for the competition, across the categories of Crikey! Magazine Cover, The Natural World, Crikey! Kids 14 Years and Under, and Crikey! Kids 15 to 17.
The winning shot for 2024, captured by Ren Schiffer, features a stunning image of Craig, an elephant in Kenya, Africa. This powerful photograph, which will feature on the cover of Crikey Magazine’s printed summer edition, serves as a poignant reminder of the wild spirit we must strive to preserve.
A beautiful image of a majestic leopard sleeping in a tree, photographed by Robert Nightingale in Samburu, Kenya, was the winner of The Natural World category.
Captured by Jared Miner, aged 16, is an image of brown bears at Katmai National Park displaying various fishing techniques in Alaska, winning the Crikey! Kids 15 – 17 category.
Finally, a spectacular image of harvest mice taken in England by Jamie Smart, aged nine, won the Crikey Kids 14 Years and Under category.
The Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition is supported and judged by award-winning photographers and conservationists, including Robert Irwin, Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier, Kate Berry, Day Scott and Georgina Steytler.
In honour of Robert’s birthday, Australia Zoo visitors enjoyed viewing these wonderful images, along with other festivities, including free entry for children aged 14 and under, live musical performances throughout the day, wild walking adventures with professional photographers from CameraPro, free ice cream, and more. Robert fed the crocodiles in the original grandstands, where Steve used to feed these apex predators!
“Thank you to everyone who visited Australia Zoo on this special day. I am thrilled to be able to share my love for the natural environment through photography, and continue our mission to showcase the wild kingdom, while creating positive change on the planet, “ Robert said.
Visitors to Australia Zoo can view the finalist images throughout the summer school holidays, and in the printed summer edition of Australia Zoo’s Crikey! Magazine.
