A Morning Walk Turned 9YO Shreyovi Mehta Into 'Wildlife Photographer Of The Year'

At age nine, Shreyovi Mehta of Faridabad has achieved great appreciation for her photography skills. The Class 5 student made history on September 1 as the youngest Indian to win a 'Wildlife Photographer Of The Year' title, being named Runner Up in the '10 Years and Under' category. Her photograph titled 'In The Spotlight', capturing an ethereal silhouette of peahens in Bharatpur's Keoladeo National Park, has proven that the little prodigy does not come just to play. The competition organised by BBC is in its 60th edition in 2024, according to the Press Trust of India.

Shreyovi Mehta's Love For Wildlife

Shreyovi Mehta was just two years old when she first got into wildlife photography, inspired by her family. Her father, Shivang Mehta, is a renowned artist in this field. Her mother, Kahani Mehta, is the co-founder of a leading wildlife destination management company called Nature Wanderers.

According to the Local Samosa and PTI, Mehta's picture was among nearly 60,000 photographs by participants of all ages and experience levels from 117 countries and territories. The nine-year-old will receive a medal at an award ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London on October 8.

Mehta was on a morning stroll in the forest with her family and father's friend, Anish Andheria, President of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, when they chanced upon a pair of peahens in the fog under a canopy of trees. She quickly captured the stunning scene which has now won her the global limelight.

The budding wildlife photographer remarked, "I am glad that my image of our national bird has been given recognition by the Natural History Museum at the biggest stage of wildlife photography. I will continue to practice so that one day even our national animal - the tiger gets the same recognition."

Wildlife Photographer Of The Year Competition

Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel, spoke about the selection process. "These images represent the evolution of the competition through the years, from pure natural history to photography that fully embraces representation of the natural world - the beauty and the challenges."

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition will open at London's NHM on October 11 and will run till June 29, 2025. Shreyovi Mehta told the PTI that she hopes to continue her passion for photography and bring more wildlife conservation issues to the spotlight through her craft.