10 Stunning Tiger Photos That Won Top Wildlife Awards

OT Staff

“The Embrace” by Sergey Gorshkov

Captured in Russia’s Land of the Leopard National Park, this Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020 winner shows a rare Siberian tigress embracing a tree, marking her territory in a remote forest.

“The Embrace” by Sergey Gorshkov | @infinite_milos/x

“The Tiger” by Vladimir Cech Jr.

Taken in Ranthambore during dry season, this image from Nature’s Best Photography Asia 2019 highlights a Royal Bengal tiger resting under golden light, exuding regal calm amidst Rajasthan’s rugged wilderness.

“The Tiger” by Vladimir Cech Jr. | Vladimir Cech Jr. Photography/facebook

“The Explosion” by Ashley Vincent

Winner of National Geographic’s Grand Prize in 2012, this dynamic image captures an Indochinese tiger mid-shake, with water droplets frozen in mid-air, reflecting its raw, muscular power.

“The Explosion” by Ashley Vincent | @Piclogy/x

“Whiskers at Dawn” by Nitish Madan

Commended in the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Awards 2020, this image shows a tiger in Corbett National Park reclining at dawn, with soft light illuminating its whiskers in a moment of quiet repose.

“Whiskers at Dawn” by Nitish Madan | nitish.madan/instagram

“Tiger’s Gaze” by Sofía López Mañán

This runner-up at the 1839 Color Photography Awards presents a tiger locking eyes with the camera, its vibrant coat and intense expression capturing the wild cat’s fierce spirit and alertness.

“Tiger’s Gaze” by Sofía López Mañán | 1839awards/instagram

“Tiger’s Solitude” by Andrew Holt

Featured in the Remembering Wildlife series, this Ranthambore photo portrays a lone tiger reflected in still water, conveying a quiet, almost melancholic atmosphere amidst the jungle’s serenity.

“Tiger’s Solitude” by Andrew Holt | Courtesy of Andrew Holt/Remembering Wildlife

“The Siberian Stare” by Sascha Fonseca

Captured with camera-trap precision in Russia, this image of a Siberian tiger displays the rare Amur subspecies navigating snowy forests, its piercing eyes framed against the winter landscape.

“The Siberian Stare” by Sascha Fonseca | bigcatswildlife/instagram

“Ghost Cat” by Sinheng Tse

A Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalist, this haunting image shows a critically endangered South China tiger in captivity, its pacing silhouette highlighting the fragile existence of the subspecies.

“Ghost Cat” by Sinheng Tse | Wildlife Photographer of the Year/facebook

“Masterclass in Tiger Fighting” by Mangesh Ratnakar Desai

Grand Prize winner at Nature’s Best Photography International 2024, this Tadoba image freezes a mother tiger training her cub to fight, with splashing water capturing both motion and teaching instinct.

“Masterclass in Tiger Fighting” by Mangesh Ratnakar Desai | gowildforlife/instagram

“Black Tiger in Similipal” by Prasenjeet Yadav

This image, featured in National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year 2024, captures an extremely rare pseudo-melanistic tiger with unusual dark stripes, photographed in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Odisha.

“Black Tiger in Similipal” by Prasenjeet Yadav | unforgettable_baripada/instagram

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