At the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2024, Sri Lankan photographer Vinod Liyanage won in the ‘Behaviour: Mammals’ category for his stunning image titled ‘A Tranquil Moment.’ The photograph captures a young toque macaque peacefully sleeping in the embrace of an adult.
Vinod snapped this poignant moment at Wilpattu National Park during a family safari. While pausing for breakfast, he spotted a troupe of macaques and was immediately drawn to the sight of a baby macaque curled up against its mother.
The touching image not only evokes deep emotions reminiscent of human infants nestled against their mothers but also sheds light on the challenges faced by these monkeys.
As toque macaques increasingly adapt to human food sources, the encroachment of plantations into their habitats has led to rising incidents of shooting, snaring and poisoning by farmers protecting their crops.
The competition showcased the beauty and fragility of the natural world, attracting a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries, featuring an array of wildlife from falcons hunting butterflies to dolphins swimming through submerged forests.
Liyanage’s achievement not only reflects his remarkable talent but also raises awareness of pressing environmental issues affecting wildlife.