A stuffed anteater photo disqualified the winner of a prestigious wildlife photography competition, and created a huge scandal for the event.
Following an investigation, an image titled "The Night Raider" submitted by photographer Marcio Cabral, was disqualified from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
The deception was discovered by the London Natural History Museum, which hosts the event.
"I find it disheartening and surprising that a photographer would go to such lengths to deceive the competition and its worldwide following," said Roz Kidman Cox, the chair of the competition's jury, according to Buzzfeed News.
"The competition places great store on honesty and integrity, and such a breach of the rules is disrespectful to the wildlife photography community, which is at the heart of the competition," Cox continued.
Cabral’s photo won the competition's 2017 "Animals in Their Environment" category, but he denies he did anything wrong.
"Marcio had been visiting the National Park for three years waiting for the right conditions to capture the glowing termite mounds. After days frustrated by rain, he was in for a surprise,” his award-winning entry said.
"A giant anteater ambled out of the darkness and stayed just long enough for Marcio to take a single picture, using a long exposure and flash to highlight his unexpected companion."
However, an investigation was prompted by an "anonymous source," who came forward last month "questioning the authenticity of the image.” Investigators compared the entry photo to those of a stuffed anteater at the entrance of the national park where the photo was taken.
Five experts were then called on to make the comparison.
"The five scientists, working independently of each other, all concluded there are elements of the animal's posture, morphology, raised tufts of fur and patterns on the neck and head that are too similar for the images to show two different animals,” the miseum reported.
"The experts would have expected some variation between two individuals of the same species."
This isn’t the first time the competition’s judging panel has been hoodwinked. In 2010, the winning photographer was found to have used a domesticated wolf to capture the winning image, reported The Guardian.
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