Photo contest refuses to bow to scandal of faked anteater

THE Natural History Museum will not change its Wildlife Photographer of the Year rules, despite being hit by a cheating scandal last year.

As this year’s shortlist was revealed, the judges said they would keep faith in the “honesty and integrity” of the competing photographers.

Last year, winner Marcio Cabral’s image The Night Raider was found to feature a stuffed anteater pictured beside a termite mound in Brazil’s Emas National Park. A whistleblower contacted museum officials to tell them the anteater had an uncanny likeness to a stuffed version in the reserve’s visitor centre.

But the museum said that experience would not change the policy.

“The judges themselves are chosen to include a range of skills and expertise, both biological and photographic, and are well able to question the veracity of an image,” said a spokesman.

“The rules also make it clear that the competition champions honest and ethical photography.

“The competition places great store in honesty and integrity, and it’s crucial for entrants to read and follow the rules carefully when entering their work.”

Mr Cabral denied the allegation of trickery but was unable to provide any pictures of the anteater in a different position.

Australian photographer Wayne Jones’s image of a yellow pygmy goby guarding its glass bottle lair off the coast of Mabini in the Philippines. The photograph is on the shortlist for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize

The faked photograph of the anteater which was disqualified last year