See the Winners of the Mangrove Photography Awards 2025

“Birds’ eye view of the hunt,” Mark Ian Cook, Mangrove Photographer of the Year. United States. “A flock of Roseate Spoonbills glide over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the shallow, mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay.”

“Avian Impressionism,” Mark Ian Cook. Winner, Wildlife, Birds. United States. “Blue-winged Teal create ephemeral artwork as they dabble for food in the chai-coloured shallows of Florida Bay, Florida.”

“A Snack in the Mangrove Forest,” Satwika Satria. Winner, Wildlife, Mammals. Indonesia. “A young proboscis monkey enjoys an avicennia fruit amidst the dense mangrove forest.”

“Low tide on hermit crab island,” Alex Pike. Winner, Underwater. Australia. “While Clibanarius taeniatus is one of Australia’s more common hermit crab species, very little is known about it and I’m not sure it even has a common name.”

“Morning Serenity in Abu Dhabi,” Ahmed Badwan. Winner, Emirates Award. United Arab Emirates. “A serene morning kayak journey through the lush mangroves on one of Abu Dhabi’s tranquil islands—where nature whispers in stillness, and sunlight dances gently on the water’s surface, creating a scene of pure harmony.”

“Mangrove Honey Bees Make Land,” Ian Rock. Winner, People, Conservation and Restoration. Costa Rica. “After a winding route through many narrow canals, fisherman Manuel carries a heavy bee hive off a boat to its new home within the buffer zone of the Terraba-Sierpe mangrove forest, the start of a new mangrove honey project for the community.”

“Mangrove Under the Milky Way,” Gwi Bin Lim. Winner, Landscape, On the Ground. Indonesia. “A stunning view of the Milky Way unfolds above a landscape where mangrove trees and forests blend in perfect harmony.”

“Paradise Buried,” Tom Quinney. Winner, Threats. Indonesia. “Not far from Bali’s airport and tourist beaches, I came across this mountain of waste towering behind one of the island’s struggling mangrove forests. Young shoots rise while dead trunks mark where others failed. The scene is a quiet warning—of resilience under threat and of what lies just out of frame in paradise. I took this photo to show the uneasy edge where mass tourism, urban waste, and vital ecosystems collide.”

“Bhoben Biseash and his Otters,” Freddie Claire. Winner, People, Livelihoods. Bangladesh. “The otters get their reward for a busy morning of fishing.”

“Mangroves and Modernity,” Ahmed Badwan. Winner, Landscape, From the Air. United Arab Emirates. “The harmonious blend of mangrove nature with the modernity of the city — a captivating contrast where urban innovation meets the timeless rhythm of the wild.”

“Crocodile Galaxy,” Nicholas Hess. Winner, Young Photographer. United States. “A pair of American Crocodiles sit before The Milky Way Galaxy in a mangrove forest in the Florida Everglades.”

“Cormorants welcoming the sunrise in the embrace of the mangroves,” Dr. Mahdi Mohammad Gholoum. Winner, Arabian Gulf Award. Qatar. “On a quiet morning, the cormorants welcome the sunrise as they rest among the branches of the mangrove trees. These skilled seabirds find in the shade of the mangroves a safe haven away from the waves and wind, where they can regain their energy after bathing in the sea. With the first golden rays of the sun, calm and tranquility fill the place, and the birds seem to join nature in greeting the start of a new day full of hope and life.”