Wildlife photographer Nejib Ahmed honoured in Natural History Museum, London

MANGALDAI: Nejib Ahmed, a young and dedicated wildlife photographer and conservationist from Dalgaon in the Darrang district adjacent to Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve (ONPTR) in Assam, became the first photographer from Assam to be invited to attend the 59th Wildlife Photographer of the Year event, 2023, hosted at the Natural History Museum, London. This exclusive event took place from October 9 to October 11.

Furthermore, Nejib’s remarkable talent has earned him recognition in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, with one of his photographs awarded as highly commended in the Photo Journalism category. This outstanding achievement ensures that his work will be exhibited in the museum for the next session, spanning 2023-24.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a renowned annual international wildlife photography competition organized by the prestigious Natural History Museum in London. This esteemed event features an exhibition of the winning and commended images each year, subsequently embarking on a global tour. This competition has earned acclaim as one of the world’s most prestigious, with winners selected from a remarkable pool of approximately 50,000 entries representing nearly 100 countries. The judging process is conducted by a distinguished and professional panel of experts. The awards ceremony takes place at the iconic Natural History Museum in London, followed by the unveiling of the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year portfolio, showcasing the winning images. Subsequently, the high-quality Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition opens in London, captivating audiences worldwide throughout the year and attracting over 5 million visitors.

Nejib Ahmed’s noteworthy distinction lies in being the first individual from Assam to receive an invitation from the Natural History Museum to participate in this prestigious event. This recognition is a significant honour and underscores the commendable wildlife photography efforts in the region. Over the past 15 years, Nejib has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cause of wildlife conservation and the preservation of their natural habitats. Among his notable accomplishments is his triumph in the 2022 ‘Nature in Focus International Photography Competition’, where he secured victory in the Conservation Section. This achievement serves as a compelling testament to his unwavering dedication to raising awareness about conservation issues through his exceptional photography.

Besides that, Nejib has won awards like Nature Photography Winner in 2018 from the Photography Club of Assam and Nature Photographer of the Year in 2019 from the Photographic Society of Assam. His works have appeared in famous magazines like National Geographic and BBC Wildlife. He has also written for well-known journals like Outlook Traveller, Saevus India, Sony BBC Earth, and Sanctuary Asia. He even co-authored a book named Birds of Orang with Pradipta Barua, DFO, Orang National Park, Assam, India.

Motivated by his unwavering commitment to wildlife preservation, Nejib established the Wild Wings NGO, where he leads efforts to protect endangered species and passionately advocates for sustainable practices that foster harmonious coexistence with the environment. Nejib’s invitation to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year event is not only a personal achievement but also a source of pride for Assam and a testament to the power of photography in advocating for conservation on a global scale.

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