Roebuck Bay mudskipper and crab fight photo shortlisted for prestigious photography award

An Australian photographer has been shortlisted for a prestigious wildlife photography award after capturing the exciting moment a Roebuck Bay mudskipper fiercely defended its territory from a trespassing crab.

Wildlife photographer Ofer Levy is one of two Australian photographers to be shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the people’s choice category for his photograph of a mudskipper and a crab in Broome’s iconic wetland.

The photograph was shortlisted from more than 49,000 entries by an international judging panel and London’s Natural History Museum.

Emigrating from Israel to Sydney 22 years ago, Levy initially visited Broome to photograph the shorebirds of Roebuck Bay with the aid of the Broome Bird Observatory.

“I’ve been to Broome three times altogether; the first time was about 15 years ago when I came to photograph shorebirds in Roebuck Bay,” he said.

“When I was there at the time, I wasn’t even aware of the mudskippers. But this time, I became very familiar with the mudskippers.”

Known for their ability to survive prolonged periods both in and out of the water and their territorial behaviours, Levy watched on as a mudskipper and a crab went head to head with each other in a threatening but stunning display.

The mudskipper asserted its dominance by gaping its mouth and flaring its fins at the open claws of the crab, which eventually backed down.

Levy has previously won a Wildlife Photographer of the Year award and knew what the competition was after, but said the community feedback made him feel like he had already won.

“I would like to win, but I’m happy with the noise that it made in Australia and in my community, so I’ve already won,” he said.

“People stop me in the street and tell me what an amazing photo it is and well done, it’s crazy.”

Readers can vote for the people’s choice award category on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year website until January 31, with winners announced on February 7.