ri Lankan wildlife photographer Lakshitha Karunaratne’s striking image, “Toxic Tip”, has been named among the 100 award-winning photographs at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, now in its 61st year at the Natural History Museum, London.

The photograph, which captures a lone elephant foraging through a waste disposal site in Sri Lanka, was selected from a record-breaking 60,636 entries submitted worldwide. Karunaratne has long documented the human-elephant conflict on the island, where nearly 7,500 elephants often struggle for survival — some tragically seeking food in open rubbish dumps.

Expressing his gratitude, Karunaratne described the recognition as both humbling and significant. He emphasized that “Toxic Tip” shines a spotlight on the devastating impact of poor waste management on Sri Lanka’s elephants, calling for greater sustainability and responsibility in protecting wildlife.

Often referred to as the “Oscars of Wildlife Photography,” the competition highlights the power of photography as both an art form and a tool for raising awareness. Karunaratne’s work, selected among just 0.16% of submissions, has already reached global audiences through international media coverage.

In his statement, he urged: “Let us move towards a world where waste is managed responsibly, where sustainability is not a choice but a way of life. By protecting our elephants, we safeguard not only a species but also the spirit of nature that belongs to us all.”