Award-Winning Animal Photos Found to Be Fraudulent

You might believe the following photos were award worthy -- the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency did. The agency awarded nature photographer Terje Helleso the honor of Nature Photographer of the Year in 2010 for his images of endangered animals.

You may be impressed too, but know this: he used stock photos and photoshop and lied.

Animal conservationist Gunnar Gloerson was not so impressed. You see, Helleso didn't pay too much attention to the details. UPI has more:

"Doesn't this lynx in the July greenery have a winter fur (see above photo)? How about the lynx that's reflected in the pool, is it walking in the air or on land, and can you really see the paws in that angle?" Gloerson wrote in a blog Aug. 26.

Gloerson questioned claims by Helleso that the photographer has seen 150 lynx in nine months, when Gloersen had only seen 15 in 52 years of wildlife study.

On Saturday, Helleso admitted to the photo manipulations.

PetaPixel reveals the stock photos that were used to create Helleso's photos. Pictured below are the stock photo and Helleso's doctored image.

PetaPixel also points out that Helleso said this while accepting his award last year:

We nature photographers should never forget the responsibility we have with our images, from both a documentary and artistic perspective.

The Swedish EPA is still reviewing whether or not Helleso will be able to keep his title. Why is that even still on the table?

[H/T Gizmodo]