Tharindu Sendanayake, a talented Sri Lankan photographer, made history by winning first place at the 2024 Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Photography Awards. His striking photograph (Primal Fury) taken at the Yala National Park, captures the dramatic moment of a leopard in fierce struggle with a wild pig.
This powerful image earned him the grand prize of INR 150,000 and makes him the first Sri Lankan to claim this prestigious award, marking a milestone in the nation’s wildlife photography arena.
Sendanayake’s victory is even more meaningful as two other Sri Lankans also received recognition.
Asela Karunaratne earned an honourable mention for his breathtaking aerial shot of egrets at Mannar Beach while Lakshitha Karunarathna won the Editor’s Choice award for his poignant image of an elephant scavenging at a waste site.
Running since 1981, the awards celebrate the art of wildlife photography while promoting conservation across Asia. The competition is one of the toughest in the field, attracting thousands of entries from photographers around the world.
Sendanayake’s win is a testament to his skill in capturing nature’s raw beauty and its urgent need for conservation.