Photographer Lakshitha Karunarathna Wins Prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year

 His awarded photograph, titled “Toxic Tip”, was chosen from more than 60,000 entries worldwide. The striking image captures a lone elephant scavenging at a waste dump in Sri Lanka’s Ampara District, powerfully reflecting the growing environmental crisis caused by plastic and polythene pollution.

Experts warn that the ingestion of polythene and plastic waste has become a serious threat to elephants, leading to digestive complications and shortened lifespans.

Speaking on his achievement, Karunarathna—who has been documenting the human-elephant conflict for the past three years—emphasized that the award is not only a personal milestone but also a reminder of the urgent need to address the impact of human waste on wildlife.

The official WPY Award Ceremony is scheduled to take place on 13 October in London, where Karunarathna’s work will be showcased alongside other winning entries from across the globe.