Jake Parker, Seeing the Wild (NATURE WILDERNESS 2026)

At the entrance to Wilpattu National Park, a sign beside a leopard photo reads: “Perhaps you might not see me. But don’t be disappointed — I’ve seen you.” After waiting more than two hours as daylight faded, we became some of the lucky few to witness one of these elusive cats emerge from the undergrowth. Moving cautiously along the roadside, the leopard paused briefly, allowing me a rare moment of eye contact with this magnificent predator.

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