Location: Asheville, North Carolina, United States.
A retired couple living on the outskirts of Asheville, North Carolina, have the pleasure of hosting regular visits from animals like this stunning American black bear (Ursus americanus) on their back porch, all thanks to the wildlife corridor that traverses their property.
2. Terrestrial Wildlife Category Winner - "For Survival" By Donglin Zhou
Location: Shiqu, Sichuan Province, China.
A snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and a Pallas's cat (Otocolobus manul).
3. Human/Nature Category Winner -"Nose To Nose" By Douglas Gimesy
Location: Joey and Bat Sanctuary, Beveridge, Victoria, Australia.
A newly rescued common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) named Maude receives gentle care and affection from a veterinary student.
4. Winged Life Category Winner -"Pass By" By Lin Xiaoping
Location: Xiamen, China.
"Xiamen City is home to thousands of egrets, earning it the nickname ‘the island of the egrets.’ At first blush, this image captured there appears to be a simple photo of an egret getting a surprise jump from its prospective meal. Then, a moment of delight—the meal is chasing a meal of its own!"
5. Landscapes, Waterscapes, And Flora Category Winner - "Regeneration" By Miquel Angel Artús Illana
Location: Tossa De Mar, Spain.
Miquel Angel Artús Illana, a Barcelona-born and trained photographer, currently resides in Tossa De Mar, where he finds inspiration in the captivating landscapes. Since a young age, he has been drawn to his hometown's native forests and mountains, making regular trips to explore their beauty.
6. Art Of Nature Category Winner -"Field Of Dreams" By J Fritz Rumpf
Location: White Mountains, Arizona, United States.
This image captures the underside of a mushroom, potentially from the Lactarius genus. The photographer was particularly fascinated by the vibrant colors exhibited on the gills, with the notable inclusion of blue tones, hinting at the possible existence of psilocybin or psilocin.
7. Aquatic Life Category Winner - "Of Blades & Spines" By Kate Vylet
Location: Carmel Bay, United States.
Sea urchins fulfill a critical role as detritivores by devouring decaying algae and providing sustenance to marine life further up the ecological ladder.
8. Winged Life Finalist - "Little Winged Warrior" By Robert Dodson
Location: British Columbia, Canada.
A magnificent close-up shot of a Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus).
9. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist - "Cloud Walker" By Torie Hilley
Location: Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, United States.
This magnificent Alaskan Peninsula brown bear (Ursus arctos gyas) appears to be walking on clouds.
10. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist - "Dripping" By Benjamin Olson
Location: Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, United States.
An intimate portrait of a majestic moose (Alces alces) in the water where it spends most of its summer days.
11. Aquatic Life Finalist - "Crowd Control" By Andy Schmid
Location: Skjverøy, Norway.
"This photograph is a perfect demonstration of evolution and ecology: carousel feeding by Norwegian orcas. A behavior first coined with respect to bottlenose dolphins, carousel feeding is a hunting tactic wherein a pod of marine mammals work together to herd prey into a tight ball, or, as it appears in this photo, a donut-like shape. As the ball is herded tightly by one or more individuals, the rest of the pod will whip their tails into the school in order to stun, and then feed on, the fish within."
12. Winged Life Finalist - "Puffin Present" By Shane Kalyn
Location: Borgarfjörður Eystri, Iceland.
Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) are some of the most photogenic birds on the planet.
13. Winged Life Finalist - "Waiting For Love" By Audun Rikardsen
Location: Tromsø, Norway.
A mate-seeking Arctic moth (Gynaephora groenlandica) rests on a leaf under the enchanting glow of the Northern Lights during the night.
14. Aquatic Life Finalist - "The Secret Life Of Underwater Hippopotamuses" By Mike Korostelev
Location: Kosi Bay Lake, South Africa.
A couple of hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) enjoy a quiet moment below the surface of the water.
15. Aquatic Life Finalist - "Barrel Roll" By Karim Iliya
Location: Moreai Rurutu, French Polynesia.
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calf playfully rolls in turbulent waves while its mother naps just out of view.
16. Terrestrial Wildlife Finalist - "Livin' On The Edge" By Amit Eshel
Location: Zin Desert, Israel.
Two adult Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) males are engaged in a fierce battle for the right to mate.
17. Human/Nature Finalist - "Hvaldimir Playing With Ropes" By Audun Rikardsen
Location: Sørfolda, Norway.
A beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) nicknamed Hvaldimir plays with ropes. After making an appearance off the coast of Norway in 2019, wearing a Russian harness and camera mount, Hvaldimir became the subject of local speculation, with some believing he had undergone spy training. Apart from this theory, little is known about him, but the photograph suggests he has encountered various troubles with humans. Being separated from his pod due to domestication, he actively seeks human interaction, which can pose significant dangers.
