Tigers in America and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries host a yearly photo contest in honor of International Tiger Day, which is celebrated on July 29th each year.
Photo contest to identify the best picture or video of a tiger or other big cat.
Can be a picture of any tiger(s) or other big cat(s) in the United States, or video not to exceed 30 seconds.
Contest runs from June 15 to July 15, 2026; Judging to follow
Finalists will be selected based on:
- Impact: Does the first impression elicit an emotional reaction to the image; is it captivating on its own
- Technical Excellence: Composition, framing, sharpness, lighting, and color—all great attributes of a memorable photo
- Ethics: Photos and videos are captured in a careful, respectful manner which puts the welfare of the animals first
- Storytelling [optional]: Do the cats in the picture have a story? Does the image help tell that story?
Your photo will be judged by none other than world-famous animal photographer Jo-Anne McArthur!
Jo-Anne is an award-winning photojournalist, sought-after speaker, photo editor, and the founder of We Animals. She has visited over sixty countries to document our complex relationship with animals. She is the author of three books: We Animals (2014), Captive (2017), and HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene (2020), and is the subject of Canadian filmmaker Liz Marshall’s acclaimed Canadian documentary, The Ghosts in Our Machine. Jo-Anne’s photographs have received accolades from Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Nature Photographer of the Year, Big Picture, Picture of the Year International, the Global Peace Award, and others. She hails from Toronto, Canada.
Winners will be announced July 29th (International Tiger Day) and posted on the GFAS and TIA websites, and social media.
Prize money $1,500 ($1,000 for winner, $100 each for 5 runners up)
You can download an entry form with instructions in either a Microsoft Word or PDF file.
2025 Contest Winner
Winner: “What are We Teaching?”
Guest Judge @joannemcarthurphotography had this to say about the winning photo: “What Are We Teaching?” stands out in this competition with a strong message. Tigers are in the predicament they are in because of
humans, and here we have a young human in the picture. The photo speaks of animals, culture, oppression, learning, and the potential for a better future. What will this child learn? It’s up to us to teach. This image also has a unique composition, with the two subjects looking toward each other.
Photographer: Gigi Glendinning
Location: Circus in Indiana, USA
Prize: The photographer will receive a $1000 prize, and their impactful photo will raise awareness about the plight of tigers and the role of education in shaping a compassionate future.
2024 Contest Winner
Photographer: Stefanie Kraus
Location: WildCat Ridge Sanctuary, Oregon, USA
2023 Contest Winner
Photographer: Tammy Spencer
Location: In-Sync Exotics