Lumphini’s lizards star in winning urban wildlife photo

A photograph of monitor lizards in Bangkok’s Lumphini Park by UK photographer Seth Forestson has won the Urban Wildlife category of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, an annual competition run by the Natural History Museum in London.

(Photo: Seth Forestson/Natural History Museum)

Titled “Urban Jungle”, the image shows a common water monitor carrying a fish through the park. According to the museum, the challenge was not finding the lizards but capturing them in action, as they spend most of the day basking in the sun. Forestson lowered himself onto the mud when the moment came to frame the reptile against the Bangkok skyline.

Common water monitors have adapted to city life across South and Southeast Asia, feeding on whatever is available, including the catfish and koi that fill the lakes of Lumphini Park, the museum said.

The result is a striking contrast between the dragons and the skyscrapers behind them, turning the park into a Jurassic Park of its own.

The Urban Wildlife category recognises images of nature living alongside people in human-dominated environments, from the magic of the commonplace to the surprise of the unexpected or normally unseen.

Forestson, who grew up in London and studied zoology at university, is in the early stages of his career. He has loved wildlife photography, documentary and storytelling all his life. He believes it is more important than ever to inspire people from all backgrounds, including those with fewer opportunities, to connect with nature.

In his acceptance speech, Forestson said he does not own a professional camera and took the image on his smartphone (Google Pixel 7 Pro). He added that he had never entered a wildlife photography competition before.

“Anyone can be a wildlife photographer,” he said, even with just a smartphone and the guts to throw yourself into the mud.