GDT European wildlife photographer of the year 2010

The overall winner: Ghostly Cheetah, Britta Jaschinski, Ndutu, Ngorogoro Conservation Area, Tanzania, October 2007. 'I arrived in Ndutu only days after a huge bushfire had ripped through the area, burning down a huge number of majestic acacia trees. I could smell ash and cinders in the air. The destructive power of these fires is immense. I found many empty, whitened tortoise shells and saw disorientated impala and dikdik wandering around with nowhere to hide. And then, a cheetah appeared on the blackened soil. This fire must have been a windfall for large cats – their prey was confused and out in the open. But the cheetah looked unsettled, alienated and lost – almost ghostly. I took the photo and then watched as he melted into the background'
Photograph: Britta Jaschinski/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Birds runner-up: 'Rette sich wer kann!', Michel Roggo, Switzerland. Chub (Squalius cephalus) and Mute swan (Cygnus color). In winter, Rhine river, Schaffhausen, Switzerland Photograph: Michel Roggo/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Birds, highly commended: 'Clowns im Schnee', Werner Bollmann, GDT – Germany Photograph: Werner Bollmann/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Mammals, runner-up: 'Hyäne bei Sonnenaufgang', Grégoire Bouguereau, France, the spotted hyena, The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. 'In the south of the Serengeti national park, from having watched them for 10 days or so, I knew that a horde of hyena came regularly to the watering place every sunrise. The temporary pool seemed to be both the gathering place and the occasion for quenching their thirst after the night hunt. On this particular morning, I had arrived after the horde had come and gone, all except for one hyena, lingering for just a short moment, as the sun appeared on the horizon' Photograph: Grégoire Bouguereau/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Other Animals, winner: 'Phototaxis im Frühjahr', Csaba Gönye – Hungary Photograph: Csaba Gönye/European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Other Animals, runner-up: 'Der Komet', Asier Castro de la Fuente – Spain Photograph: Asier Castro de la Fuente/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Other Animals, highly commended: "Auge in Auge", Bence Máté – Hungary Photograph: Bence Máté/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Plants and Fungi, winner: 'Tang in Licht und Zeit', Gabi Reichert – Germany
Photograph: Gabi E Reichert/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Underwater World, highly commended: 'Eisvogel bei der Unterwasserjagd', Manfred Delpho – Germany Photograph: Manfred Delpho/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Landscapes, highly commended: 'Das Ende', Olivier Seydoux – Switzerland Photograph: Olivier Seydoux/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Man and Nature, winner: Mistle thrush on nest in traffic light, Paul Hobson – Leeds City Centre Photograph: Paul Hobson/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

The prize of the audience went to David Allemand and Christophe Sidamon-Pesson (France) for their image 'Snowy Owl – Harfang de neiges', which was highly commended in the bird category Photograph: David Allemand/Christophe Sidamon-Pesson /GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Winner of the Fritz Pölking Award 2010: The great comeback – breeding turtles in Costa Rica by Solvin Zankl, Germany. Many female olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are swimming from the Pacific Ocean towards the beach of Ostional, Costa Rica, to gather for an arribada (mass nesting event) Photograph: Solvin Zankl/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010

Winner of the Fritz Pölking Junior Award 2010: 'The Art of Light' by Michal Budzynski – Poland
Photograph: Michal Budzynski/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010