Photograph of a crocodile in Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park earned German photographer Jens Cullman the top prize

Jens Cullman, a German photographer, won the World Nature Photography award, a global nature and wildlife photography contest for a shot of a crocodile with brilliant yellow eyes lurking just above the dry mud in a Zimbabwe park.

'Danger in the mud,' with entries from 45 nations, was chosen as Cullman staked out Mana Pools National Park's most prominent, drought-ridden pool, which has been reduced to muddy pits.

© Jens Cullmann

When temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius during the dry season, crocodiles will try to aestivate — or lower their body temperature — by burying themselves in the mud for up to a month without eating, relying solely on their fat stores. This is a process known as aestivation.

"Even though it was buried in dried mud, I had to be extremely careful not to disturb the crocodile," Cullman told the participants. "They will fling themselves with incredible speed and strength at any animal that comes too close."

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