Kent Fox Photograph Takes Top Honor in European Wildlife Competition

An international competition has awarded first prize to a photograph depicting a fox, captured at dawn within the grounds of Leeds Castle in Kent. Robert Canis’s photograph secured the top position in the Mammal category of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, an event that attracted nearly 18,000 submissions from more than 30 nations. This marked his third participation in the contest, which is organized by the German Society for Nature Photography. Mr Canis expressed his reaction, stating: “To say I was a little surprised and, of course, thrilled would be an understatement!” Setting up the cameras required a full day for Mr Canis, and he subsequently revisited them every three to five days for checks. The specific image that captured his interest was discovered “two weeks and multiple visits later,” having been captured as part of a six-year endeavor to document the “natural history” of Leeds Castle. The competition featured nine distinct categories and was evaluated by a judging panel that included Alexa Keefe, a senior photo editor for National Geographic. He commented, “I’ve taken photographs to share experiences and make people care more about the natural world.” He further remarked, “Anywhere can be a place for photography,” and pointed out that “the best places to take pictures are where you live.” Mr Canis received a prize of €800 (£664.60).