Peter Hutchins, Far from home (ANIMAL & NATURE 2025)

These four images capture a rare and poignant encounter with a juvenile Manta Ray, found more than a thousand kilometres south of its natural range in Sydney—a silent testament to the shifting boundaries of our warming oceans. Gliding gracefully through the cooler southern waters, this young ray embodies both resilience and fragility: a tropical wanderer displaced by rising sea temperatures. Yet, a closer look reveals two fishing hooks lodged in its body — stark reminders of humanity’s reach, even in the most remote marine sanctuaries. Together, these images tell a story of beauty and consequence — of climate-driven migration and the enduring impact of human activity on the ocean’s most majestic inhabitants.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.