This summer, Animal Planet asked you to send us your favorite original animal photo for a chance to win a photo safari for four to Africa with a LIFE magazine photographer. We received over 11,000 entries by mail and online between June 9 and Aug. 11, 2005. Each was judged by LIFE magazine for originality, quality of photo and ability to evoke emotion. One photo rose above the rest.

About the Winning Photo

Linda Nagata from Santa Monica, Calif., and her fiancé, Greg, went for a swim off "Pig Island" in the Bahamas last year when a family of five pigs entered the water behind them. Linda believes the pigs may have thought the couple had food on them. As the pigs got closer, Linda took out her disposable, waterproof camera and, half-submerged, snapped a photo of one very curious, friendly pig. Linda never thought the picture would win her a trip to Africa.

But sure enough, a year later when Animal Planet's Summer Photo Contest came around, Linda knew which photo of hers she would submit. She was shocked and excited to receive the news that she had won, and plans to take her fiancé, brother-in-law and fiancé's brother on the trip sometime next spring (exact date to be determined).