XXXVIII International Ethological Congress
Behaviour 2025
August 25 - 30, 2025 | Kolkata, India

A. Contest Overview
Ethology In Focus is an international wildlife photography contest and a proud component of Behaviour 2025: The XXXVIII International Ethology Congress. This contest invites photographers from around the globe to capture the subtle yet powerful expressions of animal behaviour, blending art with scientific inquiry. We aim to celebrate innovative visual storytelling that deepens our understanding of the natural world while highlighting the intricate relationships between animals and their environments.

01 Colours in Behaviour (CB)

Animal colouration plays a crucial role in survival and communication—whether for attracting mates, warning predators, or blending into the surroundings. Submit images that capture the fascinating ways animals use colour in their natural environments

02 Urban Adaptations in Animals (UAA)

Wildlife thrives even in the most unexpected urban spaces, finding creative ways to survive alongside humans. This theme invites photographs showcasing how animals navigate, adapt, and flourish in city landscapes, from nesting in man-made structures to scavenging in urban markets.

03 Cooperation and Conflict (CC)

Social interactions among animals are a delicate balance of teamwork and competition. Capture moments of cooperation—such as group hunting, parental care, or coordinated movements - or conflicts, like territorial disputes, dominance fights, or competition for any form of resources.

04 Behaviour in the Lab (BL)

Scientific research reveals incredible insights into animal behaviour through controlled experiments. This theme seeks images depicting research subjects engaged in behavioural studies, from cognitive problem-solving to physiological responses, highlighting the intersection of science and nature.

We look forward to your visual narratives that document and interpret the multifaceted world of animal behaviour.

B. Jury



Gabriela Staebler
Gabriela Staebler is an internationally recognized wildlife photographer and author based in Germany. Since 1987, she has extensively documented wildlife across Africa, working as a freelance photographer for National Geographic and other international publishers. Her work has received multiple awards from leading photography competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natures Best International Photography USA, and European Nature Photographer of the Year. She has also served as a judge in several international nature photography contests and has published numerous books for both general and young audiences.

Website: https://www.gabrielastaebler.de/



Dhritiman Mukherjee
Over the past twenty years, Dhritiman Mukherjee has spent more than 280 days each year in the field, documenting endangered species from Himalayan snow leopards to Arctic seals across 35 countries. His photographs appear in BBC Wildlife, National Geographic Traveller, The New York Times, and Nature inFocus, and have earned him the RBS Earth Heroes, Carl Zeiss Conservation Award, and Kirloskar Vasundhara Mitra awards. He co‑authored Magical Biodiversity of India and co‑founded Saevus, India's leading wildlife and nature magazine.

Website: https://dhritiman.com/

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Guidelines

All winning entries will be exhibited during the Behaviour 2025 conference at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. Exciting Prizes will be announced shortly. Our media/knowledge partners may feature the winning entries during or after the event.

Winning Categories-
  1. There will be Top 3 winning entries from each category. Each category will have one winner.
  2. One Grand Winner and a Runner-up will be announced.
  3. Honourable Mentions from each category.
Winning photos are judged by our panel of award-winning wildlife photographers and respected ecologists.
Entry Fees:
  1. Individuals may enter a competition with a fee of Rs. 1000. It is a single fee that allows any entrant to enter a maximum of 12 images (up to 3 images per category).
  2. To ensure accessibility, we are pleased to offer a 50% discount to participants from the Global South.
Eligibility Criteria
  1. The competition is open to any individuals aged 18 or over.
  2. An entrant may wish to participate in all categories, but the upload limit is up to 3 images per category.
  3. You can win a maximum of two categories.
  4. The overall winner and runners-up will be selected from all submitted photos.
  5. Winning entries will be announced before August 25, 2025, and will be exhibited at the conference. Winning entries, upon curation, may be covered by our media/knowledge partners. Picture credits will be given.
  6. Winners will be chosen by judges appointed by the organisers of Behaviour 2025, whose decisions are final.
  7. Individuals actively involved in the organization or execution of the Behaviour 2025 conference and the contest, including committee members, staff, and volunteers, are ineligible to participate in the competition.
Technical Specifications:
  1. Only digital images in JPEG format (sRGB) will be accepted. Image resolution should not exceed 1600 pixels on the longer side and 72 DPI, and file size should not exceed 2MB
  2. Photographs may have been captured at any point in time.
  3. Submissions must not include borders, frames, watermarks, or signatures.
  4. File naming should be according to the following: Theme Acronym_File sequence_Artist Acronym.JPG. For example, CB_01_JD.jpg)
  5. Acronyms for each category are mentioned in the category descriptions in the contest overview section.
Image Enhancement and Authenticity:
  1. Basic retouching (brightness, contrast, saturation, and white balance adjustments) is acceptable, provided the image retains its original essence.
  2. Any significant alteration that misrepresents the original scene may result in disqualification.
  3. If an entry is shortlisted, the original RAW file or an unprocessed JPEG (if RAW is unavailable) may be requested to verify authenticity.
  4. Usage of Artificial Intelligence is strictly prohibited. Any such practice for this contest will result in the elimination of the entry in question upon verification.
Submission Process:
  1. All entries must be submitted via the official contest website, and the Google form must be shared during the designated submission period.
  2. Participants are encouraged to carefully review submission guidelines and FAQs before submitting their entries to ensure full compliance with the contest requirements.
  1. Entries will be subjected to a double-blind evaluation to ensure fairness - The jury will not have access to photographer details.
  2. Entries will be assessed on technical skill, creative vision, overall impact, and thematic adherence (composition, storytelling, and subject engagement).
  3. Decisions made by the Jury would be held as final.
General Terms and Conditions:
  1. Participants agree to engage in promotional activities, including exhibitions and media coverage.
  2. Personal data will be securely stored and used exclusively for competition-related purposes in compliance with data protection laws.
  3. Organizers reserve the right to amend these terms, withdraw inappropriate entries, or disqualify entries that violate rules.
  4. Entries cannot be withdrawn after submission unless significant permission issues arise.
Ethical Standards
  1. Photographers must ensure their practices do not cause harm, distress, or disrupt wildlife or their natural habitats. Any method that alters the natural behaviour of animals or jeopardizes their well-being is strictly prohibited.
  2. Submissions should authentically represent the natural state of the subject without employing artificial means (e.g., live bait, undue attraction) to secure a shot. Any form of manipulation that misrepresents the reality of the scene will result in disqualification.
  3. Participants are responsible for adhering to all applicable national and international legislation in the jurisdiction where the image is captured and for obtaining any necessary permits—particularly when photographing protected species. Appropriate consent must also be secured if human subjects are present and identifiable.
  4. All information in image captions, including location and context, must be accurate and complete. Any breach of these ethical guidelines may lead to disqualification at the discretion of the jury.
Events Beyond Reasonable Control
The organisers shall not be held liable for delays or failure to perform any obligations due to events beyond their reasonable control, such as natural disasters, governmental actions, or other unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, a reasonable extension will be granted, or the contest may be rescheduled at the organizers' discretion. We do not accept responsibility for the delay in entries, however caused.

Intellectual Property Rights and License
  1. Photographers retain full copyright over their submitted images.
  2. In exchange for participation, photographers grant the organisers a non-exclusive, worldwide license to reproduce, display, and distribute the images across all media for only contest-related purposes. This license does not transfer ownership but permits the use of the work as described.
  3. For any commercial exploitation beyond the scope of the contest, explicit written consent from the photographer must be obtained.
  4. By participating in the contest, photographers grant the organising committee and associated partners the right to use submitted images for promotional, exhibition, and publication purposes, with appropriate credit provided.
  5. Selected entries may be showcased on official event channels and social media platforms to celebrate and promote the contest.
Submit Your Work