SURREY — A Surrey photographer is among the winners in BC SPCA’s eighth annual Wildlife-In-Focus contest.
Surrey resident Arsalan Butt took home the People’s Choice Award for her photograph “Take-off” featuring an Anna’s hummingbird lifting off to take flight.
Vancouver photographer Colin Beadle also won the People’s Choice Award for his photo of a barn owl on a frosty morning.
This year participants were encouraged to submit photos of either backyard habitats or “Wild Settings,” featuring animals in their natural habitats.
The People’s Choice category was new this year and involved a “donate-to-vote” component for people to support their favourite photos all while helping wildlife.
“With more than 700 photos and over 10,000 votes in this contest, the competition was fierce and the leaderboard was changing every day,” said BC SPCA chief scientific officer Dr. Sara Dubois. “We want to thank all the participants for sharing their photos, voting on their favourites and helping to raise over $13,800 for wild animals in need.”
The funds raised will support the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) on Vancouver Island.
The judges selections won’t be announced until the end of October. Stay tuned to spca.bc.ca/wildlife-in-focus for the final results and to view the photos captured by amateur photographers across B.C.