Award-Winning Photo of Startled Marmot Fighting a Fox Spurs Caption Contest
The well-timed photograph, captured by Chinese photographer Yongqing Bao, has been awarded the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year title.
Image credit: Twitter/@NHM_London
An image of a scared marmot reacting to an attacking fox has gone viral on social media for all the right reasons.
The timely photograph, captured by Chinese photographer Yongqing Bao, has been awarded the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year title. The prestigious award is given out every year by the Natural History Museum, London.
While many amazing and scintillating images were shortlisted for this year's award, the winning entry by Bao has managed to tickle social media's funny bone.
In the image, the marmot stands frozen, human-like, with its mouth hanging slack as a Tibetan fox charges at it.
And our winner is....Yongqing Bao!Selected by our judges from over 48,000 entries, Yongqing’s powerful winning picture frames nature’s ultimate challenge - its battle for survival - in an unforgettable and unique moment between a Tibetan fox and a marmot. pic.twitter.com/AvvOHDI9xB
— Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) October 15, 2019
The image spawned hilarious reactions on social media. Many wondered the fate of the poor marmot right after the photo was clicked.
This photo of a fox surprising a marmot has earned Yongqing Bao the top prize in the 2019 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. https://t.co/2yHqRmGXQI pic.twitter.com/4uZuClymOj
— Meredith Frost (@MeredithFrost) October 16, 2019
This is an amazing photo… but, um… was the marmot torn apart a moment later??
— Eerie Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) October 16, 2019
“Jesus, Ted! Quit doing that! Gave me a god damn heart attack!”
— Any Day Now (@Jax_Gracie) October 16, 2019
When you promised your girlfriend you’d leave at 9 and she sees you order another beer.
— Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) October 17, 2019
Caption title "Stop right there, I wanna know right now". Meatloaf song lol.
— corinne (@Corinne84340954) October 16, 2019
Wow, that's one huge scary marmot - can see why the little fox is looking a bit scared for a split second.
— Stephen de Vere (@Stephen_deVere) October 16, 2019
— Jordan (@jzrdan) October 15, 2019
I'll admit I was surprised to see an marmot singing opera. pic.twitter.com/j1mTX7JIMt
— dtalley2000 (@dtalley2000) October 16, 2019
— Dave Nolan (@flightofthebee1) October 15, 2019
The photographer, Bao, has to stake out a medow in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China for the p erfect shot. Unfortunately, though the image looked hilarious and almost slap-stick, the moments captured was deadly. In the end, the rodent did not make it.
"That's nature,' Bao was quoted by BBC as saying after winning the award.
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