A 10-year-old from near Truro has won the Under 12 mobile category of the RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2024 with his photograph of a slow worm.

Arlo Rautenbach secured the top spot with his image entitled Slippery Slow Worm, taken at Polly Joke beach near Newquay.

“It is really exciting as so many people from all over the UK enter,” he said. “I feel quite privileged - I wasn’t expecting it.”

Arlo’s photograph was taken after surfing. “We saw the slow worm on the sand, which is quite unusual,” he explained. “I wasn’t sure if it was a slow worm or a baby snake at first.

“It was moving up to the rock, so I took a picture. It was a challenge because the slow worm was slinking so quickly towards the beach. I’m pleased that I captured it moving between the contours of the rock.”

Arlo continued: “I really like nature. I love taking photos of squirrels and hares, or snails, or shells on the beach, or my guinea pig Bumble. I’m curious about the natural world and if something takes my interest, I’ll take a photo of it.”

Arlo explained that his whole school - Grampound Road Village School - would be watching the live stream of the awards ceremony, held at the Tower of London on Thursday, to show their support.

The prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards invites young people aged 18 and under to capture the animal kingdom on a camera or mobile device. They are judged by a panel of experts including wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby and Fabian Rivers, also known as Dready Vet, an exotic animal and wildlife vet and RSPCA ambassador who appears on CBBC’s The Pets Factor.

The RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2025 opens for entries on May 6. For more information visit rspca.org.uk/ypa