The 2024 N.U.T.T.E.R. Award Winners
The polls have closed. The votes have been counted. And the winners are ….
Actually before I get into that – and for those who are new to the site – the NUTTER Awards are the annual mammalwatching awards for the most Notable, Unique, Tantalizing, Tenacious and Enlightening Reports: The N.U.T.T.E.R Awards aka The Mammalwatching Hall of Fame.
As the community grows then so does the competition and I hope nominees are proud to be on the list: there really were a lot of great reports and first reports, guides, moments and conservation stories to choose from. And the competition was close: only a handful of votes separated some of the winners from the rest.
A big thanks to the 300 people who voted this year and to the team at Project Felis – especially Ruben and Valentin – for their help organising all this, along with those who helped shortlist the reports. And thank you to everyone who nominated reports in the first place.
Here are the winners. Congratulations to you all. Your entry into the mammalwatching Valhalla is now guaranteed (I was about to write ‘fast-tracked’ but let’s hope not!).
Best Trip Report
WINNER: Alexander Meyer – Madagascar
An incredible amount of species and some nice pictures
https://www.mammalwatching.
RUNNER UP: Remi Pichard – Ethiopia
Three trips with outstanding pictures and a lot of useful information
https://www.mammalwatching.
Very useful report, with some innovative maps showing sightings and habitats.
https://www.mammalwatching.
Another very readable report covering a ton of information from a massive trip.
Another excellent report from the Jansens with great pictures and a lot of useful information for those wanting to plan their own trip.
Outstanding Guide
WINNER: Harriet Kemigisha (Uganda)
For changing the mammalwatching game in Uganda and finding a the first fairly reliable spot for African Golden Cat
RUNNER UP: Zarek Cockar (Kenya)
For some superb guiding as well as running the East African Mammalwatching group on Facebook
For accessing new areas and species to mammalwatching, eg Western Long-beaked Echidna, and applying his pro-league birding skills to finding mammals
Best and Worst Mammalwatching Moment
WINNER: Jon Hall – Mexico
Although not that great of a sighting (let’s be fair), seeing the rarest cetacean on the planet deserves at least an honorable mention
https://www.mammalwatching.
RUNNER UP: Charles Foley & Jon Hall – Cote d’Ivoire
Looking the wrong way for the Zebra Duiker (and then the right way for a Liberian Mongoose!)
https://www.mammalwatching.
Daytime sighting of Andean Mountain Cat at close range
Snorkelling with a Blue Whale should be on everyone’s bucket list
https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/bali-and-timor-leste-diving-with-blue-whales-and-more/
Most Inspiring Conservation Project / Person / Place visited
WINNER: Nanjing Finless Porpoise project (reported by Jonas Livet)
A great report on this very worthwhile initiative that is saving a species
https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/yangtze-finless-porpoises-in-china-and-how-we-encountered-amazing-animals-in-nanjing/
RUNNER UP: Shavez Cheema – Borneo
For his conservation work across Borneo
eg see https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/new-massive-borneo-nature-travel-guide-free-to-download/
Visiting reserves and projects on a publicity tour
Promoting new eco-tourism areas and maybe finding a new species
For services to Mexican mammals through his constant time in the field
Best First Report
WINNER: Antoine-Rabussier – Madagascar
Excellent pictures and useful information for those wanting to travel independently.
https://www.mammalwatching.
RUNNER UP: Anna Bauerová – Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina
Excellent photos and a great first report
https://www.mammalwatching.com/community-post/trip-to-brazil-with-brief-visit-to-argentina-and-uruguay/
A young and very keen mammalwatcher (who is looking for mammals ‘even when he is asleep’ ) on a family trip: nice species and lots of details about the sites
The first of many excellent trip reports
The awards will return next year so consider keeping a list of anything you read this year that might be worthy of a nomination….
We will also introduce one or two new categories for the next set of awards including best photography/videos (suggested by several people).
Thanks
Jon & Team Felis
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Ralf Bürglin
Great job. Thanks for organising it!