Agora, an app where amateur and professional photographers can share their unique vision of the world, invited its users to submit snaps of animals for a contest called #Animals2020. They eventually received 13,888 submissions, which were narrowed down to a shortlist of 50 contestants after the app’s users held a vote. From fluffy cows to relatable primates, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the best photos from the contest.
Winner: ‘Iguana’ by @jjnmatt (Indonesia). ‘The iguana conveys the beauty and uniqueness of nature,’ said the photographer.Location: Surin, Thailand. ‘The province of Surin is well-known for its elephants. Traveling to this province would be incomplete without a visit to the Ban Ta Klang Elephant village. I wanted to show how the elephants have become symbols of beauty, grace and elegance despite their gigantic size,’ said photographer @mannylibrodo (Philippines). Location: Indonesia. Credit: @jordisark (Spain). Location: Kebun binatang Taman Satwa Jurug, Indonesia. ‘Jurug Zoo is a popular destination for our local community and is often used for educational purposes for students to introduce animals and the environment,’ said photographer @cymot (Indonesia).Location: Armenian Church, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. ‘My friend and I were chatting on the forecourt of the church. I noticed this dog lying on his master’s grave. Immediately I went home to look for my camera and, with the permission of the church officials, took the picture,’ @saiful0007 (Bangladesh).Location: Australia. Credit: @olmospatricia (Spain). Location: Jakarta, Indonesia. Credit: @pitokung (Indonesia).Location: Kamchatka, Russia. Credit: @hi.jewi (Germany).Location: Sevilla zoo, Spain. Credit: @mohamedtazi (Morroco). Location: Dobbiaco Lake, Italy. By @alan_gallo (Italy).
Location: Cisarua, Indonesia. Credit: @irawansubingar (Indonesia). Location: Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation, Zimbabwe. Credit: @_kennyc_ (UK).Location: Sipadan Island, Malaysia. Credit: @alexdemartin (Spain).Location: Chamonix, France. ‘I was so happy to spot my first ibex. After hiking for an hour and a half, I began to doubt I would see any. Literally one minute later, at the bend of a large rock, he was there, grazing his grass quietly right next to me!’ said photorapher @onkwelphoto (France).Location: Gondwana Game Reserve, South Africa. Credit: @frenchcliche (South Africa).
Location: Kedoya Utara, Indonesia. Credit: @prabuds (Indonesia). Location: Chongqing, China. Credit: @johnnydee (China).Location: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana. Credit: @superiaia (Italy).Location: Etosha, Namibia. Credit: @freeilli (Italy).
Location: Smoker Island, Wales, UK. ‘I love wildlife and wildlife photography with a passion I wanted to capture unique, powerful portrait of a puffin this was caught my eye and stood tall for perfect puffin portrait,’ said photographer @hb_photography (UK).Location: Iceland. ‘I went looking for this little one for days, when suddenly through the glass of the car and I saw it perched on a slope. I ran and lay a meter from it while I was eating, that’s how I managed to catch this magnificent moment,’ said photographer @photoepb (Spain).Location: Murtosa, Portugal. ‘Here is farmer Silvina with her Black turkey, which was brought to Portugal about 500 years ago when Spanish discoverers returned from their first forays into Central America,’ said @jorgebacelar (Portugal).Location: Germany. Credit: @leo.wies (Germany).Location: Dublin, Ireland. Credit: @Silvija_Collins (Ireland).Location: Jaipur, India. ‘The rhesus macaque’s typical diet consists of roots, fruits, seeds, and bark, but also insects and small animals,’ said photographer @beyond_imagina (India).Location: Machu Picchu, Peru. Credit: @josuozkaritz (Spain).Location: Kruger National Park, South Africa. Credit: @joeshellyy (UK). Location: UK
Location: Breeding Panda Center, Chengdu, China. ‘It was a rainy day without many pandas walking around. What could I do, impossible to force a wild animal to show up or to pose! I was already grateful to visit this place and support those wonderful animals. Suddenly, the young panda went out from the forest. This was the best moment I remember and I was glad I could have captured it in my camera,’ said photographer @polatina (Poland).Location: Berkeley Deer Park, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK. Credit: @danrose (UK).
Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.
