Winners Gallery

An emperor penguin chick stands on the edge of the ice-shelf, staring at the open water below. “This is a scene that should not be,” says photographer Stefan Christmann. “Typically, emperor penguin chicks fledge from the edge of the much lower sea ice. In this case however, a climate-change induced early break-up of the sea ice had forced the youngster to climb onto the ice shelf, where it needed to finish its molt. This image symbolises the uncertain future these magnificent birds are facing.”