Wildlife exhibition comes to Oxford

The finest wildlife images from across the globe form a major photographic exhibition currently on display at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. The renowned annual British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, organised by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine, and sponsored for the tenth year by British Gas, has culminated in a display of over 80 winning photographs chosen from over 21,000 entries. Jamie Thom, a 26-year-old ranger from the Mala Mala game reserve in South Africa, wins the title of British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year with his photograph of a leopard resting at dusk (pictured above). First prize in the British Wildlife section has been awarded to Oxfordshire photographer Ron Perkins for his photograph of a roe deer in a glade. Also on display are junior categories for young photographers. The British Gas Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year is 16-year-old Nick Wilton from Johannesburg, with an image of a malachite kingfisher. Professor Keith Thomson, Director of the Museum, said: `The University Museum has exhibited this competition for many years and it is particularly nice that this year there is a winner from Oxfordshire.' The exhibition runs until Sunday, 5 March, and is open daily from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.