Captured on camera

As the magnificent beast gazes out of his enclosure at hoards of human admirers, a young boy studies him closely from the other side of the glass.

The two primates appear to be lost in thought - the gorilla resigned and looking away; the boy staring in awe.

This stunning photograph, taken by Gerhard Schulz at Miami Metrozoo in Florida, saw off fierce competition last night to win the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award.

The 49-year-old German, whose entry was one of 20,500 from more than 60 countries, was presented with the award by comedian-turnedornithologist Bill Oddie at London's Natural History Museum. 'Gorilla And Boy is a picture with layers of meaning - as the best always are,' said one judge, BBC Wildlife Magazine editor Rosamund Kidman-Cox.

Iwan Fletcher, 17, from Wales won the Young Photographer of the Year award with his shot of a solitary sanderling, a small wading bird.

The photographs are among 109 winning and highly commended images, in 15 categories, which will feature in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum from Saturday.