Chester Zoo to host Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition

For the first time, the world-renown Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 exhibition will be showcased in Cheshire in a special venue at Chester Zoo.

Curated and on loan from London’s prestigious Natural History Museum, the exhibition will display a breathtaking collection of 100 previously unseen images that capture the extraordinary beauty, complexity and fragility of nature around the world.

Celebrating its 60th year, the exhibition will be running at the zoo every day between Monday 17 February until Sunday 6 April.

Visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore the planet’s most captivating wildlife photography, using soundscapes and videos surrounding the physical images to tell the stories of how the photographs were captured.

Experts at the conservation zoo say the powerful images highlight the vital connection between people and nature, while also sparking important conversations about how best to protect wildlife.

Gemma Wright, Visitor Experiences General Manager, at Chester Zoo said:

“This world-class exhibition is a spectacular celebration of our planet’s wildlife and we’re thrilled to bring it to the zoo. Each photograph provides an incredible insight into the natural world, reminding us of its sheer beauty, fragility and the urgent need for its protection. What better place to become immersed in this stunning collection than within the grounds of the zoo – where so much vital work to protect species, just like those seen in some of the images, takes place.”

“From majestic predators on the hunt to stunning compositions, visitors to the zoo will witness powerful stories of survival and the delicate balance of life in our new exhibition space, where we’ve added visual displays and soundscapes around the physical photographs to transport people to the very moment some of images were captured.

“Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcases some of the world’s most talented photographers, who go to extraordinary lengths to capture incredible images of the planet’s wildlife in action. Their inspirational feats deserve to be celebrated as they encourage us all to do what we can to help wildlife thrive long into the future.”

The exhibition was established in 1965 and highlights exceptional talents and lengths that explorers and photographers go to capture nature in action. This year has seen almost 60,000 entries from 117 countries and territories around the world - with winning images being chosen for their creativity, originality and technical excellence by an international panel of experts.

Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, London, says: 

“Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s longevity is a testament to the vital importance and growing appreciation of our natural world. We are delighted to feature such inspiring images in this year’s portfolio – these are photographs that not only encourage further wildlife conservation efforts, but that spark the creation of real advocates for our planet on a global scale.”

The exhibition is free to all zoo visitors who purchase normal admission tickets and will run daily between 10am and 4pm from Monday 17th February until Sunday 6th April. No timeslot booking is needed.

A number of exclusive, after-hours events will also be take place for adults only – with Chester Zoo members enjoying a special preview between 13th – 16th February.

For more exciting details, visit: 

https://www.chesterzoo.org/WPY