Nepal has once again made its mark on the international stage of nature photography. Fifteen photographs from Wiki Loves Earth Nepal have been selected to represent Nepal in the international round of Wiki Loves Earth, one of the world's major photography competitions dedicated to natural heritage and protected areas.
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| Photo by Wiki Loves Earth Nepal |
Click here to view all the finalist photos.
These 15 photographs, captured by talented Nepali photographers, will now compete with outstanding images submitted from countries around the world for the global Wiki Loves Earth awards.
Wiki Loves Earth is an international photography competition that encourages photographers to document protected areas, natural monuments, landscapes and other important natural heritage sites. Photographs are uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, where they can be freely used to illustrate Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
From Nepal to the Global Stage
The selection of 15 photographs from Nepal is an important achievement for Nepali photographers and the country's nature-conservation community. The photographs showcase different aspects of Nepal's natural heritage, from intimate macro and close-up subjects to spectacular landscapes.
According to the international Wiki Loves Earth rules, a local contest can select up to 15 photographs to proceed to the international round, where they are evaluated by the international jury.
This means these 15 photographs will now carry Nepal's representation into the global competition.
15 Finalist Photographs from Nepal
Macro & Close-up
The Macro & Close-up category highlights Nepal's incredible wildlife, ranging from tiny insects and other small creatures to some of the country's most iconic large animals, including big cats and elephants. These photographs capture the beauty, behavior, and details of wildlife found across Nepal's protected areas, showcasing the country's remarkable biodiversity from the smallest species to its largest mammals.
The selected photographers are:
- Deepak Budhathoki
- Ganga Raj Sunuwar
- Nishant Sharma Parajuli
- Deepak Budhathoki
- Dasrath Shrestha Beejukchhen
- Roshan
- Deepak Budhathoki
Deepak Budhathoki has three photographs selected in this category, while Ganga Raj Sunuwar, Nishant Sharma Parajuli, Dasrath Shrestha Beejukchhen and Roshan each have one selected photograph.
Landscape
Nepal's dramatic geography provides a remarkable setting for landscape photography, from high Himalayan scenery to forests, valleys and protected natural areas.
The eight selected landscape photographs are by:
- Ganga Raj Sunuwar
- Gaurab Bhandari
- Sangyam Rumba
- Rohit Sharma
- Gaurab Bhandari
- Sangyam Rumba
- Safal Prakash Shrestha
- Gaurab Bhandari
Gaurab Bhandari has three landscape photographs selected, while Sangyam Rumba has two. Ganga Raj Sunuwar, Rohit Sharma and Safal Prakash Shrestha each have one selected photograph.
A Competition with a Global History
Wiki Loves Earth began with an idea discussed by representatives of Wikimedia Ukraine and Wikimedia Russia in April 2012. The first Wiki Loves Earth competition was held in Ukraine in 2013. The contest became international in 2014, expanding to multiple countries and continents.
Today, Wiki Loves Earth is organized through a worldwide network of Wikimedia chapters, groups and volunteers. Each participating country conducts its own national or local competition, with selected photographs then advancing to the international round.
The Ukrainian Wikimedia community continues to organize the Ukrainian edition; the 2026 Ukrainian contest, for example, is organized by Wikimedia Ukraine.
Nepal's Natural Heritage on Wikimedia Commons
Beyond competition and awards, Wiki Loves Earth has a much broader purpose. The photographs submitted to the contest help create a freely accessible visual record of natural heritage.
For Nepal, this is particularly valuable. The country contains an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from the lowland Terai to the high Himalayas. Photographs documenting these environments can help people around the world discover Nepal's biodiversity and landscapes while also supporting educational and conservation-related work.
The international Wiki Loves Earth project aims to document natural monuments and protected areas and make these images available under free licenses for use across Wikimedia projects.
Nepal's Journey Continues
With these 15 photographs selected for the international round, Nepal now joins photographers from around the world competing for global recognition.
Regardless of the final results, reaching the international stage is already a significant achievement for the photographers and the Wiki Loves Earth Nepal community. Their photographs provide a glimpse of Nepal's extraordinary natural heritage to a global audience.
Now, the eyes turn to the international jury and the final global results.
Congratulations to all 15 photographers representing Nepal, and best wishes for the global competition!
Nepal's 15 International Selections at a Glance
Photographers represented: Deepak Budhathoki, Ganga Raj Sunuwar, Nishant Sharma Parajuli, Dasrath Shrestha Beejukchhen, Roshan, Gaurab Bhandari, Sangyam Rumba, Rohit Sharma and Safal Prakash Shrestha.
Nepal's natural beauty is now ready to compete on the world stage.
Wiki Loves Earth Nepal
Every year, Wiki Loves Earth Nepal selects 15 outstanding finalist photographs captured by photographers across Nepal. The competition is generally held from May 1 to the end of June, allowing photographers to showcase Nepal's extraordinary natural heritage through photography.
Anyone can participate by submitting high-quality photographs that meet the competition's eligibility and technical criteria. The selected photographs represent Nepal in the international round of Wiki Loves Earth, where they compete with photographs from participating countries around the world for the global awards.
Organizing Team
The Wiki Loves Earth Nepal competition is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers:
- Nirmal Dulal — Team Lead
- Nabin K. Sapkota — Outreach Coordinator
Jury Team
The submitted photographs are evaluated by a jury consisting of experienced photographers and nature enthusiasts, including:
- Ruman Shrestha
- Other jury members
The jury evaluates the photographs according to the competition's criteria and selects the strongest images to represent Nepal at the international level.
Through this annual competition, Wiki Loves Earth Nepal encourages photographers to document and share the country's rich biodiversity, protected areas, landscapes, and natural heritage with the world.
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