A stunning photograph capturing a critical moment in a puma cub's survival education has earned high recognition in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Chinese photographer Hua Dai documented an intense training session between a mother puma and her cubs in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, showcasing one of nature's most essential yet dramatic learning processes.
The award-winning image, titled "Training Day," represents photograph 20 of 1,695 entries in the Behavior: Mammals category, which focuses on portraying memorable, unusual, or dramatic animal behavior. Dai's photograph earned a "Highly Commended" distinction in the Adult Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for 2025, competing against entries from across the Americas, Latin America, and the Caribbean region.
Dai's photographic journey began when he first heard the terrified scream of a guanaco echoing through the Chilean wilderness, followed immediately by the distinctive growls of a female puma calling to the cubs he had been carefully tracking. When the photographer arrived at the scene, he discovered the guanaco was still alive but unable to escape, its body covered in bite marks from the ongoing hunt. This moment provided a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of wildlife survival training.
The photograph captures a brief pause during what wildlife experts describe as a crucial educational phase for young pumas. Puma cubs, known scientifically as Puma concolor and commonly called cougars or catamounts, initially learn by following and observing their mother's hunting techniques. Between six to ten months of age, these young carnivores begin actively learning essential survival skills, including how to find, stalk, and kill smaller animals - lessons that prove vital for their future independence and survival in the wild.
Behind the remarkable photograph stands Hua Dai, an amateur wildlife photographer from China who brings a unique background to his nature photography. Dai graduated from Zhongnan University of Finance and Economics in 1993 and spent decades working in business management before retiring. His passion for wildlife photography began in 2019, and he has been dedicated to the craft ever since, demonstrating that meaningful contributions to wildlife photography can come from unexpected backgrounds.
The technical excellence of Dai's work is evident in the image details, captured using a Nikon Z9 camera with a 600mm f/4 lens. The photograph was taken at 1/1600 second shutter speed, f/6.3 aperture with 0.3 exposure compensation, and ISO 500, showcasing the photographer's skill in managing challenging lighting conditions while maintaining the dramatic impact of the scene.
This compelling image will be featured in an upcoming exhibition designed to help viewers "pause, reflect and reconnect with the natural world through images that celebrate nature's awe-inspiring beauty and urge us to protect it." The exhibition, with tickets currently on sale, aims to harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important conservation issues, and nurture a global appreciation for nature. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition continues to support important conservation work while highlighting the extraordinary dedication of photographers like Dai who risk personal safety to document these critical moments in wildlife behavior.
