by Carla Caruso
The Bicentennial Conservatory at the Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11) will be the leafy venue for a global nature photography exhibition, in a world-first.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on tour from London’s Natural History Museum, will make its return to our city and features 100 awe-inspiring images.
The exhibition is the most prestigious photography event of its kind and will be showcased inside the conservatory, from September 29 until January 31.
It’s the first time that the annual exhibition will be presented amid a living botanical collection. Ordinarily, it’s held inside more conventional buildings. (Last year, the exhibition was staged for the first time in SA within the garden’s Rose Garden Pavilion.)
The photos displayed shine a light on stories and species from around the world and encourage our care and conservation of the planet.
‘The right look’ by New Zealand’s Richard Robinson is one image on show at the exhibition. New Zealand’s population of southern right whales were hunted to near extinction by European whalers in the 1800s, then by Soviet whalers in the 1900s. Now protected, the population has bounced back from a small group, including just 13 breeding females, to more than 2000 individuals.
Michael Harvey, the director of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, said the lush backdrop will add a ‘never-before-seen layer’ to the popular exhibition.
One of the 2022 winners – ‘The bat-snatcher’ by Mexico’s Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar. Check out the others here.
“We’ve worked hard to find a way to blend in the unique elements of the conservatory with this world-class exhibition, and we can’t wait for visitors to come and see what has been created,” Mr Harvey said.
“The Bicentennial Conservatory is a such a well-known space to many South Australians, so to be able to present these wildlife images in amongst its rainforest plants is exciting.”
Natural History Museum director, Dr Doug Gurr, said the photographic talent on display will encourage curiosity, connection – and wonder.
“These inspiring images convey human impact on the natural world in a way that words cannot, from the urgency of declining biodiversity to the inspiring bounce-back of a protected species.”
On show - ‘The bonobo and the mongoose’ by Germany’s Christian Ziegler. Of this unique pairing, Christian said “the bonobo held and stroked the little mongoose for more than an hour”. Although, the situation probably had a darker beginning. Bonobos are omnivores and eat mainly fruit but occasionally they hunt. The mongoose pup, which was eventually released unharmed, may have been taken when its mother was killed.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year was launched in 1965 and showcases the work of some of the world’s best nature photographers. This season, the competition received entries from 90-plus countries all over the globe.
Tickets to the Adelaide exhibition are $11 (for adults), $9 (concession holders/students), and free for children 12 years and younger.
At the exhibition - ‘A swan’s perspective’ by Poland’s Mateusz Piesiak.
While at the Botanic Garden, you might also want to check out what’s looking beautiful outdoors this spring. Think wattles, its pink-flowering Judas tree, colourful succulents at the sunken garden, and its wisteria-covered arbours.
Adelaide park lover Sue Lewis captured this pretty image of the Judas tree at Adelaide Botanic Garden (Park 11) this month.
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Banner image: ‘Treefrog pool party’ by Costa Rica’s Brandon Güell.
Plagued by mosquitoes, Brandon waded chest-deep into the murky water where a gathering of male gliding treefrogs were calling. At dawn, thousands of females arrived at the pool to mate and lay their eggs on overhanging palm fronds. Here, unmated males search for females to mate with.
These spectacular mass-breeding events occur in only a few remote locations, a few times a year. Each female lays around 200 eggs, creating huge egg masses. Eventually, the tadpoles will drop into the water below.
