An image of a snub-nosed monkey by photographer Chung Van Thanh, a resident of Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam, has been named the winner of the Wild Birds and Mammals of Vietnam 2024 photography competition.

An awards ceremony of the contest, which was launched by the Vietnam Wildlife Photography Club in collaboration with BirdLife International and Wildtour Company, was organized in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday afternoon.

The winning image captivated the entire panel, which included three renowned photographers and three bird and animal experts, said Nguyen Hoai Bao, a bird expert and the head of the panel, in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

The image was chosen from a shortlist of 75 images, which had been narrowed down from over 400 entries.

"The snub-nosed monkey is one of the symbolic wild and rare species in Vietnam’s conservation efforts," Bao said.

"These monkeys are primarily found in the karst landscapes of Ha Giang Province.

“To capture a snub-nosed monkey is not easy at all as the animal is seldom seen.

“Many people have traveled to Ha Giang to snap the species, but to no avail.

“Capturing the moment of a snub-nosed monkey looking straight into the camera as if it was interacting with people is not easy.

"That is the reason why all panel members chose the image as the winner of the competition."

He expressed hope that when people appreciate the natural beauty and wildlife through such stunning photos, it will lead to a reduction in illegal animal hunting and cruelty.

At the awards ceremony, the runner-up prizes went to an image of two red-winged laughingthrushes and another featuring a black-winged stilt alongside a painted-snipe.

The photo of the two red-winged laughingthrushes was taken atop Mount Fansipan in Sa Pa, located in the northern province of Lao Cai, by Do Xuan Tam, a 72-year-old resident of Hanoi.

Three third prizes were presented to Phan Van Phu for an image of two red-tailed laughingthrushes, Huynh Van Truyen for his photo of a whale and a seabird, and Pham Trung Kien for a picture of two pied kingfishers.

The contest had previously received over 400 entries from 117 local and international photographers, said Nguyen Truong Sinh, head of the organizers.

These photographers captured the charming moments of wild animals and birds across Vietnam.

Each image tells a story of Vietnam's diverse wildlife, capturing scenes from places like Xuan Thuy National Park in northern Nam Dinh Province, Tram Chim National Park in southern Dong Thap Province, the Central Highlands, and other national parks that are home to a wide variety of rare and endangered species.

All outstanding 75 pictures taken by 45 photographers are being showcased at the SC VivoCity shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City throughout Thursday next week.

Vo Quoc Thuan, a representative of the organizers, expressed hope that the photo exhibition would inspire a greater love for nature and raise awareness about protecting wildlife.

The following entries received high commendation at the contest.

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