‘Wildlife in motion.’ Why a Manatee County photo is being celebrated statewide

A local wildlife photographer’s snap of an iconic Florida creature has won first place in a celebrated statewide contest.

On his social media accounts, 24-year-old Parks Marilla documents encounters with colorful birds, snakes, bugs, bobcats and more around Bradenton and other parts of Florida.

Now, a photo he captured in Manatee County is bringing attention to one of Florida’s special inhabitants that’s at risk of becoming endangered — the gopher tortoise.

Gopher tortoises are the only land tortoise native to Florida and the Southeast, and they face increasing threats as development gobbles up their habitat and isolates the reptiles from one another. They also play an important role in the ecosystem as a “keystone” species, carving complex burrows into the earth that provide shelter for a diversity of other animals.

In Marilla’s photo, fittingly titled “Keystone,” a lone gopher tortoise scrambles over a palm frond as it treads through the sandy soil of a natural area in Manatee County.

The photo won first place in the wildlife category for the Florida Wildlife Federation’s annual Lou Kellenberger Florida Photo Contest. For 2025, the conservation advocacy organization chose the theme “Florida in Focus.”

“From the intricate patterns of native orchids to the sweeping vistas of Florida’s coastal landscapes and the wonder of wildlife in motion, this year’s entries offered a compelling visual narrative about why Florida is worth protecting,” Florida Wildlife Federation staff said in a news release. “Thousands of submissions poured in from across the state, representing every corner of the Sunshine State and its cherished ecosystems.”

The winning photos will be featured in the Florida Wildlife Federation’s 90th anniversary calendar for 2026. Winners also receive gift cards and other prizes.

In a post on Instagram, Marilla said he was “honored” by the recognition.

“These reptiles are considered a keystone species because they dig burrows that provide shelter for more than 300 other species,” Marilla’s post reads. “Long may they reign over Florida’s sandy uplands and beyond.”

Florida Wildlife Federation 2025 photo contest winners

See Marilla’s photo and other winning shots below:

See more of the winners at FloridaWildlifeFederation.org.

Hear stories behind the photos

To celebrate World Photography Day, the Florida Wildlife Federation will host a “Capturing Conservation” livestream event on its YouTube and Facebook pages on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 7 p.m.

“The program will highlight the power of visual storytelling in conservation and feature photo contest winners as they share the stories behind their images and their connection to Florida’s natural world,” the organization said in a news release.