9-Year-Old Indian Girl's Morning Stroll Photo Steals Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Spotlight

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A nine-year-old girl from Faridabad India, has achieved international recognition by securing the runner-up position in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Shreyovi Mehta, a Class Five student, captured an enchanting image of two peafowl during a morning walk with her parents in Keoladev National Park, Bharatpur.

Shreyovi's photograph, titled "In the Spotlight," features two peahens silhouetted under a canopy of trees. This captivating image earned her the runner-up spot in the "10 Years and Under" category of the 60th edition of this prestigious wildlife photography award.

The competition saw nearly 60,000 entries from participants across 117 countries and territories.

Shreyovi Mehta's Journey To Recognition

While walking through the forest with her parents, Shreyovi spotted the peahens and quickly ran back to her father for the camera. She then lay on the ground to take the photograph that has now garnered worldwide acclaim. Her father, Shivang Mehta, is also a photographer and has been a significant influence on her journey.

Expressing her joy on Instagram, Shreyovi said, "My heart is filled with immense joy and gratitude." She thanked her parents, Kahini Ghosh and Shivang Mehta, for their support. She also encouraged other parents to let their daughters pursue their dreams.

Future Aspirations In Wildlife Photography

Shreyovi's next big goal is to capture India's national animal, the tiger, and gain recognition on platforms as significant as this competition. "I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal - the tiger gets the same recognition," she told PTI.

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

Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel, highlighted how these images represent species diversity and conservation issues. "In this selection you see species diversity, a range of behavior, and conservation issues. These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years," she said in a statement.