The Portland Metro Photographic News

Picked from over 43,000 entries, "The Storybook Wolf" photograph by Joe Luis Rodriguez took the top prize in the internationally famous U.K. Veolia Environnment Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

But, not for long. 

After an extensive investigation into the origins of the photograph, the judges determined that the picture of a wolf leaping over a gate was taken using a "model" or trained wolf.  Using a model animal is a violation of the organization's Rule 10.  The decision to revoke the award leaves the competition without a grand prize winner.

The official announcemnent can be seen below.

NOTE: PMPN has no rights to display the Rodriquez, "The Storybook Wolf", photograph.  But, it can be seen in an article published by the Telegraph.co.uk.

Annoucement by the U.K.'s Natural History Museum:

It saddens us to confirm that after a careful and thorough investigation into the image, the storybook wolf, the co-owners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide have disqualified the winning entry of the photographer José Luis Rodríguez. The judging panel was reconvened and concluded that it was likely that the wolf featured in the image was an animal model that can be hired for photographic purposes and, as a result, that the image had been entered in breach of Rule 10 of the 2009 Competition. The judging panel looked at a range of evidence and took specialist advice from panel judges who have extensive experience of photographing wildlife including wolves. They also considered the responses to specific questions put to the photographer José Luis Rodriguez.

The competition rules clearly state that photographs of animal models may not be entered into the competition and that images will be disqualified if they are entered in breach of Rule 10. Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition rules are available to all entrants including versions translated into several languages.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the world’s most prestigious photography competition of its kind. Any transgression of the competition rules is taken very seriously and if entries are suspected of breaching the rules they are disqualified. José Luis Rodríguez’s image will be removed from the exhibition and tour.

Mr Rodriguez strongly denies that the wolf in the image is a model wolf.

(The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.)