ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 1, 2006 – The 2006 Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, a collection of images from the world’s largest and most prestigious wildlife photography competition, makes its North American premiere at the Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center on December 14, 2006.  As with the simultaneous exhibition in London, the Zoo’s North American premiere features the winning entries dramatically displayed as illuminated large-format color transparencies.

London’s Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine have organized this annual exhibition for more than 40 years in an effort to showcase the finest wildlife pictures taken by photographers worldwide.  The exhibition features inspiring images of the natural world and aims to encourage new generations of photographers to produce visionary and expressive interpretations of nature.

The 2006 exhibition features 90 winning photographs chosen from more than 18,000 entries by photographers of all ages from more than 55 countries.   Among the winning works from this year’s competition are “Beast of the Sediment” by Göran Ehlmé of Sweden, who was awarded the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and “The Dilemma” by 17-year-old Rick Stanley of the United States, who was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

“We are excited to once again host the North American premiere of this remarkable exhibit,” said Ron Kagan, Executive Director of the Detroit Zoological Society.  “The incredible images of wildlife and nature will leave everyone in awe.”

Corresponding study guides and a teacher’s guide for the 2006 Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will be available on the Zoo’s website, www.detroitzoo.org, in early January.  The study guides will allow students to view and print information about the exhibit, and the teacher’s guide will assist educators with integrating a visit to the Zoo and the exhibit into their classroom curriculum.

The North American premier exhibit, which is taking place at the Detroit Zoo for the third straight year, will run until April 22, 2007.  The exhibit is open during Zoo hours and is free with regular Zoo admission.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October, and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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