Spectacular Images Of The 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards (45 Pics)

A gentle manatee grazes peacefully underwater, nestled beneath the tangled roots of a mangrove forest.

In Mayan culture, the crocodile is a sacred creature. It links earth, air and water. It is linked not only to nature, but also to the underworld, the place where souls wander. For the Mayans of Yucatan, cenotes are doorways to the underworld. And in mythology, the crocodile floated on the edge between the world of the living and that of the dead. This image of the crocodile, floating on the surface of this cenote, perfectly illustrates this sacred legend.

A flock of Roseate Spoonbills glide over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the shallow, mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay.  

“Historically, Florida Bay was the primary nestling region of the Roseate Spoonbill in the US, but this species is becoming increasingly rare there as sea level rise negatively impacts their important mangrove foraging habitat. This species feeds on small, estuarine fish, which it captures with its odd, spoon-shaped bill. Spoonbills are tactile foragers, meaning they feed by touch. As they forage, they sweep their bill from side to side in the water, holding it slightly open so it creates a negative pressure that effectively sucks any small fish it encounters into the bill. However, for this foraging method to be successful, the birds need relatively shallow water with very high densities of fish. This becomes particularly critical during the energetic bottleneck of the nesting season when the birds need to feed not only themselves but also 2 or 3 rapidly growing nestlings. High densities of fish are produced in the dry season when water levels decline, the area coverage of water in the mangroves shrinks, and fish become concentrated in increasingly smaller and shallower pools. Once a threshold depth of about 13 cm is reached, the spoonbills can feed effectively and start nesting. However, with climate-change induced sea-level rise, these critical lower water depths in the mangroves are increasingly failing to be met, fish densities are insufficient for effective foraging, and fewer birds are able to breed.”

A male Fiddler Crab (Uca sp.) performing a signal dance in the mud at sunset.

“A male Fiddler Crab (Uca sp.) performing a signal dance in the mud at sunset. During courtship, males wave their enlarged claw and produce sounds to attract females. This behavior is more intense at night and can involve synchronous waving with other males.”

A pair of American Crocodiles sit before the Milky Way Galaxy in a mangrove forest in the Florida Everglades. “This image is one I’ve hoped to capture for the past 4 years living in Florida. Never whilst visiting this site did I get the chance before. But this day the stars literally aligned. At 2 AM, the Milky Way rose behind not one, but two crocodiles conducting some courting behavior. Seeing my opportunity I set up my tripod to utilize a long exposure to capture the Milky Way in my image. I then used a flash to freeze the crocodile’s subtle movement. After perfecting my settings, I shot a few images as the female appeared to circle the male and below. This one turned out to be my favorite.”

Mother" is a word that needs no separate definition. The word "mother" is formed with the pronunciation "m", which is present in all languages, like Maa/Amma, etc. Even in the sound of various animals calling their mother, the influence of "M" can be seen. Nature's own part is this "Mother" race. So perhaps such is the similarity of these words. In this picture, two mothers are holding their hands and protecting their child. Mother Nature and the jungle cat mother. “One evening in the winter of Indian Sundarban I was in the safari and I had information of jungle cat and her cubs. I was waiting for 3 hours at a distance. After some time, I saw the mother jungle cat sleeping, and her little cub was also sleeping in her lap. At sundown, she started licking her cub, took it up, and moved to the jungle. The whole moment was breathtaking to me. As I saw the lifetime moment, also the protective nature of mother.”

When giants and minnows coexist.

“In the Sundarbans, a massive crocodile rests near a tiny mudskipper. Despite the size difference, the fish shows no fear. Their contrasting colors create a rare, captivating moment in the wild.”

Sundarbans is a challenging place because Tiger territories keep submerging into water every six hours according to the moon cycle. While there is a myth among people that Tigers do not do scent/territory markings here because they lose the mark in water very quickly, I was lucky to photograph this rare behavior in mangroves. Only funny part was, the entire urine went on the subadult Tiger’s face.

After hours of tracking through the mangroves, the elusive tiger finally revealed itself in the afternoon — emerging beneath the Hental tree, like a blossom unfolding in the wild. A perfect harmony of predator and habitat. “We had been moving through the dense mangroves since morning, every sound and broken twig fueling our anticipation. Hours passed, the forest holding tight to its secrets — until, in the quiet stillness of the afternoon, it happened. From behind a curtain of roots and shadows, the tiger appeared. She stepped into the light beneath a Hental tree, her presence sudden yet graceful, like a blossom blooming in the wild. In that moment, predator and habitat merged into a single, breathtaking scene — nature, perfectly in balance.”

Aerial image taken from a helicopter of a tannin stained tidal creek and mixed mangrove community, NSW north coast.

“Part of a series of aerial images recording the coastal ecosystems of northern NSW.”

Mangroves in the mist.

“As Dawn breaks over Florida's east coast, golden rays pierce the early morning mist, revealing the intricate beauty of the Indian River Lagoon below. Captured by drone, this aerial view showcases a delicate estuarine ecosystem protected by winding shorelines of resilient mangrove trees-nature's guardians that shelter a vast diversity of wildlife, In the distance, the Kennedy Space Center reminds us that just beyond this peaceful refuge, humanity reaches for the stars. This image celebrates the harmony between natural wonder and scientific ambition, both grounded in the same fragile world.”

As part of FAO’s FISH4ACP program, the Gambian Navy teaches oyster harvesters to swim—giving women lifesaving skills and reducing drowning risks in the mangroves. Most had never learned to swim. These women play a vital role in protecting mangroves from illegal deforestation, safeguarding ecosystems that store up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests and are crucial in fighting climate change.

“Gambian Navy swim trainers conducting a session with oyster harvesters. One of the techniques they focus on is just having the women learn how to relax and float in the water. As part of FAO's FISH4ACP program, the Gambian Navy is teaching oyster women how to swim—empowering them with lifesaving skills and enhancing their safety while harvesting oysters from the mangroves. Most of the women had never learned to swim, and tragically, a number have drowned while working on the river. The oyster women play a vital role in conserving mangroves by preventing illegal deforestation, particularly the cutting of trees by local villagers for firewood. Mangroves are crucial in the fight against climate change, as they can store up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests.”

In Jakarta, Indonesia, a huge amount of rubbish, particularly plastic waste, is ending up in mangrove areas.

“A worker is cleaning the never ending rubbish in a mangrove restoration plot.”

Pak Umar in the mangroves that protect his home.

“I had the privilege to meet Pak Umar a few months ago. A proud Bajau man who understands the importance of the mangroves for his home and fights for their preservation. The mangroves themselves are an extension of his personality and rich heritage.”

While Clibanarius taeniatus is one of Australia's more common hermit crab species, very little is known about it and I'm not sure it even has a common name.

“A study from 2003 found that its presence in large numbers generally indicates an environment that experiences higher freshwater flow than other marine intertidal regions. This is certainly true of the mangrove island I found at the entrance of Lake Macquarie which was absolutely teeming with these creatures. I visited this island at both low and high tides, and at low tide there were literally thousands of C.taeniatus feeding within the matrix of mangrove roots.”

A large female cuttlefish pauses momentarily before continuing to lay eggs in the shallow reef beneath the mangroves.

“I've spent a considerable amount of time snorkeling and diving in the mangroves of Raja Ampat, and one thing I've come to learn is that cuttlefish routinely come up to the shallow reefs beneath the mangroves to lay their eggs, quite often in the same piece of coral. This large female had been laying eggs for hours, if not days, and would pause for about five minutes after laying each egg carefully in the corals.”

A determined woman and her grandson collect water from the last remnants of a drought-stricken landscape in Shyamnagar, Khulna. Despite living near a river, they walk 2–3 km daily to find drinkable water due to salinity intrusion, a result of rising sea levels and reduced rainfall affecting the coastal mangrove community.

“On May 15, 2023, in Shyamnagar, Khulna district, this image portrays the harsh reality of water scarcity in Bangladesh’s low-lying coastal belt. A resilient elderly woman and her young grandson are seen collecting precious water from a nearly dried-up source in a landscape ravaged by drought. Although they reside near a river, the water is undrinkable due to severe salinization—an escalating problem caused by rising sea levels and tidal intrusion linked to climate change. Every day, families like theirs are forced to walk 2 to 3 kilometers to access freshwater. The situation worsens in winter months when rainfall is scarce, and even the shallow sources begin to vanish. This scene captures not only their daily struggle but also the broader environmental crisis facing the Sundarbans’ mangrove communities—where once-abundant rivers now carry salt, not life. The photograph stands as a stark reminder of the mounting impact of climate change on vulnerable populations. It reveals a generational fight for survival—where the elderly, the young, and the in-between are bound together by resilience, courage, and necessity. While the mangroves are known for protecting lives from storms and erosion, the people living around them now fight to protect their own lives—one drop at a time.”

The otters get their reward for a busy morning of fishing.

“There are only a handful of otter fisherman left and their unusual method of fishing has been handed down from father to son for centuries. The trainer adult otters are tethered and the younger otters swim free. The otters chase fish from the muddy banks into the awaiting nets and after each fishing session get their share of the catch.”

A young proboscis monkey enjoys an avicennia fruit amidst the dense mangrove forest. “This juvenile proboscis monkey is seen savoring an Avicennia fruit it found. The avicennia fruit is one of the primary food sources for proboscis monkeys. This image highlights the vital role of mangrove ecosystems in supporting the survival of this endangered species.”

In the stillness of the Malaysian mangroves, a reticulated python lies motionless in the crook of a tree branch. Hidden in plain sight beneath glossy green leaves, it waits out the heat of the day, conserving energy for the cover of night—when the forest awakens and the hunt begins.

“I was exploring a mangrove forest in Malaysia, scanning the tangled branches and muddy banks for signs of movement, when I spotted this reticulated python coiled on a branch above a narrow stream. It was so well camouflaged against the dappled foliage that I nearly missed it - only the subtle curve of its body gave it away. To avoid disturbing the snake, I kept my distance and carefully set up my tripod on the opposite bank. Using a telephoto lens, I framed the shot to show the python tucked into the crook of the branch, sheltered by the broad leaves above. The dim, filtered light under the canopy made it challenging to expose the scene properly, but it also helped capture the mood of the moment - quiet, still, and almost hidden from view. During the day, mangrove forests can feel eerily calm. Most wildlife lies low, conserving energy in the heat, and this python was no exception. It remained completely motionless the entire time I observed it. Like many reptiles in these ecosystems, it’s likely nocturnal—waiting until dusk to begin its slow, silent hunt.”