The winners of the magazine's 38th annual photography competition

From a cardinal splashing in a Florida birdbath to a leopard lurking in Botswana's Okavango Delta, the winning images of the 38th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest are as varied as the species that populate this planet. This year's winners were drawn from our largest-ever pool of entries-more than 55,000 in six categories: Mammals, Birds, Other Wildlife, Landscapes and Plant Life, Backyard Habitats and Connecting People with Nature. Along with selecting the $5,000 Grand Prize winner, seen on this page, judges awarded cash and other prizes for the first- and second-place winners in every category in each of two divisions, amateur and professional. One youth winner was also chosen.

View past winners galleries:
2007 Winners Gallery
2006 Winners Gallery
2006 Winners
2005 Winners
2004 Winners
2003 Winners - slide show
2002 Winners - slide show
2001 Winners - slide show

Prize packages for the 2008 contest were brought to you by:

Our biggest photography competition ever!

Contest opens in January

• $25,000 in Cash Prizes
• Two $5,000 Grand Prizes
• Pro, Amateur and Youth Divisions
•7 Categories
•Submit up to 20 Photos

Sign up to be notified by email when the contest opens.

SPECIAL FEATURES

40 Years of Extraordinary Images

Nature Photography Tips
Learn to take close-up photos

Binoculars
Learn how to chose the right pair

For Kids
Ranger Rick PhotoZone

Read the current issue of
National Wildlife