As midnight approaches in Svalbard, a young polar bear climbs onto an iceberg (冰山) and carves himself a temporary bed before falling asleep. This peaceful moment, capturing the essence of Earth's delicacy, was taken by Nima Sarikhani, who won Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award, which is decided by public vote.
Sarikhani, from the UK, spent three days searching Norway's Svalbard islands in the hope of catching sight of these symbolic Arctic (北极的) animals. He was finally rewarded with the sight of both an older and younger male shortly after his ship changed course. Sarikhani seized the chance to take a photo of the younger bear sleeping on the iceberg—a scene that not only awakens the bond between an animal and its habitat, but also the need to act on global challenges like climate change and habitat loss.
These days, the sight of a lone polar bear on melting ice is a familiar symbol of the impact of climate change. But that is for a good reason: global warming is having a particularly rapid effect on the Arctic, which is heating up at a rate three times as high as that of the average around the world. Among those hardest hit are these bears, which are increasingly threatened by the reduction in sea ice cover that they rely on to hunt and raise young.
Though his photo is intended to arouse emotion in those who see it, Sarikhani is optimistic that with the right actions, it isn't too late for polar bears. The image will be displayed in an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, along with the competition's four runners-up, until 30 June.
