9-yr-Old Shreyovi Mehta's Chance Peahen Photo Wins Runner-Up in Wildlife Photographer

New Delhi: A striking photo by a 9-year-old Indian has been awarded runner-up in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition held by the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London.

Shreyovi Mehta, a fifth-grade student from Faridabad near Delhi, was taking a morning stroll through Keoladev National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, when she came across a pair of striking peahens. She ran back to her father to get a camera and captured the winning shot.

The captivating photo, titled "In the Spotlight," shows a pair of peahens against a backdrop of trees, illuminated by dappled light.

Mehta was awarded runner-up in the “10 Years and Under” category of the 60th edition of this esteemed wildlife photography competition. Her photograph stood out among nearly 60,000 entries from participants of all ages and experience levels across 117 countries and territories.

Mehta expressed her gratitude to her parents, Kahini Ghosh and Shivang Mehta, who is also a photographer.

“My heart is filled with immense joy and gratitude,” Mehta said in an Instagram post. 

“I am so proud to represent my Bharat on this global stage. India’s rich wildlife and heritage have been a source of endless inspiration, and I promise to keep working hard to bring more of it to you.”

She also mentioned her aspirations, saying, “I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal—the tiger—gets the same recognition,” Mehta told news agency PTI.

Mehta will receive a medal at the award ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London on October 8.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will open at the NHM on October 11 and will run until June 29, 2025.