Philipe Bujold, Painted Dogs of the Okavango (ANIMAL 2024)

While working on a sustainable agriculture initiative in Botswana, I had the privilege of exploring the country's ecological gem: the Okavango Delta. Despite the dry winter season, the wetlands teemed with life, offering a rare glimpse into one of the last sanctuaries of the endangered African wild (painted) dogs. Captured in these photographs are moments from three days spent tracking a pack within the Okavango. The images showcase painted dogs blurring hunt and play as they set off at sunset for the night. Their playful behaviour stands in stark contrast to their later, calculated hunt as they stalked and attacked a rival pack that overstepped onto their territory.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.