Celebrated wildlife photographer Rajarshi Banerji from Calcutta won first prize at the Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025 for a rare night-time shot of a lioness pride drinking at a Kenyan waterhole. His perseverance after eight nights in an underground hideout paid off, capturing an evocative moment of nature’s grandeur while spotlighting global conservation efforts.
Key Highlights of Banerji’s Award-Winning Capture and Global Big Cats Competition
Banerji’s dramatic photograph was taken at 2:30 am during his prolonged vigil in a sunken, air-conditioned photography hide at Lentorre Lodge in Kenya’s Olkiramatian Conservancy. The shot features nine adult lionesses and several cubs poised around a waterhole, showcasing exquisite timing with all lionesses’ eyes looking up and five tongues flicking out for water.
The underground hideout, designed for stealth observation with one-way glass, allows photographers intimate views without disturbing wildlife. Banerji’s patience and dedication over eight intense nights exemplify the craft and commitment behind wildlife photography.
The Global Big Cats Photography Competition 2025, organized by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the International Big Cat Alliance, and other partners, received over 1,000 global entries. The competition aims to celebrate and promote big cat conservation worldwide, culminating in a Global Summit on Big Cat Conservation in 2026.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presented the awards in New Delhi during Wildlife Week 2025, applauding the photographers for their role in raising awareness of wildlife protection and connecting people to the grandeur of big cats.
Banerji’s image stands out not only for its artistic and technical excellence but also for its contribution to highlighting the fragile beauty of big cats in their natural habitat, reinforcing global efforts to safeguard these majestic species.
This award adds to Banerji’s illustrious career, including earlier recognition for images of leopards, tigers, polar bears, and other wildlife, underlining his passion for nature and skill across diverse ecosystems.
Sources: Telegraph India, Telangana Today