From funny to fascinating to absolutely breathtaking, these are the best photos you’ll see all year—guaranteed
10 of the Most Spectacular Wildlife Photos of the Year That You Need to See to Believe
Published on Mar. 14, 2025
Dashing through the snow
This captivating photo earned its photographer, Slovenia’s Maruša Puhek, the grand prize and the title of 2025’s World Nature Photographer gold winner. On a snowy day, she spotted two deer running through a stark, snow-covered vineyard in Murščak, a small village in Slovenia. She had only a wide-angle lens on hand but later realized what a lucky break that was. “The scene wasn’t overly zoomed in,” she said, “allowing the snowy surroundings to remain an essential part of the composition.”
Focused, fierce and ready to play fetch
Talk about an action shot! While cruising through the Svalbard archipelago, a chain of islands in the Arctic Ocean between Norway and the North Pole, photographer Tom Nickels of Finland spotted three polar bears while on his boat. The other polar bears were munching on some lunch, but when this big cutie started playing with a stick, it made for a perfectly timed nature photo. Nickels aptly noted: “The behavior reminded me of an energetic and playful golden retriever fetching a stick.”
Throw down at the Mana Pools
This wild moment was captured at Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Photographer Jonathan Hodgetts was waiting by the pools when two male hippos broke out in a scuffle as the sun set, which cast gorgeous golden hues on the water splashing between them. Luckily, the makeshift wrestling match lasted only a few seconds—just enough time to capture this cool shot!—and tranquility resumed.
Leaping for love
A cute blue-spotted mudskipper leaping in the air was photographed on the intertidal mudflats of Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia, by Georgina Steytler. While adorable, these little amphibious fish are super territorial, and skirmishes with other males are common. In fact, this leap is basically saying, “Back the heck off!” It’s a signal that tells other males to stay out of their territory … as well as one that attracts the ladies. That said, while it’s apparently a good way to nab a mate (hey, we’re not blue-spotted mudskippers—no judging), these guys aren’t among the animals that mate for life.
Caturday at the leopard lounge
Upon returning to his tent following a safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, photographer John Edwards discovered a leopard napping on his day bed—just 10 feet from where this photo was taken. “There were only two challenges with this shot—getting the focus right through the screen and not being killed by the leopard!” he said. As it turns out, the leopard was in no hurry to leave and stayed for three hours until some local baboons chased him away. Who would’ve thought that this guy would’ve been such a scaredy-cat!
Morning light show
Nope, that’s not a scene out of Avatar—that’s our very own Earth. As dawn breaks over the Veadeiros Tablelands, a national park in Goiás, Brazil, a field of Paepalanthus plants reflects the sunlight, creating an effect reminiscent of LED lights. Marcio Esteves Cabral captured the “harmony,” as he later said, between the vibrantly colored sky and the uniquely backlit plants. Some of the most colorful natural wonders on Earth, these rare plants are part of the Cerrado biome, which is under threat from deforestation.
From beach bum to brave little turtle
You can do it, little guy! Danile Flormann of Germany snagged this photo of an olive ridley sea turtle hatchling taking its first courageous swim into the vast open ocean at Kasait, Timor Leste, in East Timor. Baby turtles, like this one, start out very small, weighing less than 2 pounds, yet bravely leave their nests in the sand to explore the ocean’s wonders.
As Flormann noted, “even if hatchlings make it to the ocean, only an estimated one in 1,000 to 10,000 survives to adulthood.” Here’s to hoping this little one not only ended up being one of the lucky ones but also eventually made it back to the beach to start a family too.
Ride-or-die sea pals
Sometimes, the unlikeliest pairs make the best of friends, and that’s definitely the case with this majestic sea turtle and its trusty sidekick, the remora. Named “The Fellowship,” this photo depicts a harmonious friendship beneath the sea, “an alliance that speaks volumes about the beauty of collaboration beneath the surface,” photographer Sina Ritter said.
These two have a mutually beneficial relationship. The remora gets to snack on leftovers from the turtle’s meals while gaining protection from predators. In return, the remora helps out the sea turtle by keeping its shell clean, munching on algae and parasites. It’s a reminder that when we work together, amazing things can happen—including “a healthier ocean for all.”
Eyes on the prize
When dinner is on the move, nothing can distract this owl’s razor-sharp focus—not even an oncoming car. Elizabeth Yicheng Shen snapped a picture of this owl hoping to pick up some fast food, a rodent scavenging scraps on the road, while flying into potential danger. With their exceptional night vision, owls hunt small rodents in the twilight hours. But flying low, especially in twilight hours, puts them at an increased risk of vehicle collisions, especially in fall and winter, when commuters travel when it’s dark.
Luckily, this owl managed to dodge the car. As for the rodent? We’re guessing he wasn’t quite as lucky in this scenario.
Secrets beyond the Milky Way
This incredible photo of Montana’s Hyalite Lake was six years in the making, as photographer Jake Mosher was repeatedly thwarted by wind, which disrupted the shore’s reeds and made the visual alignment he was looking for impossible. This time, though, after yet another 5-mile hike to this spot, he encountered 26 full minutes of “dead calm.” He used two cameras to capture this mesmerizing scene of the summer Milky Way reflecting this pretty lake. The stars twinkle brilliantly in the emerald sky while the tranquil lake mirrors this celestial spectacle, creating a stunning reflection that makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to another dimension.
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Source:
- World Nature Photography Awards: “Our 2025 Winners”
