A seadragon and flushing worms: Environmental Photography award winners
Sumatran tiger, Indonesia, 2021. The world's tiger population has declined by 95% over the last hundred years, mainly as a result of deforestation, which is drastically reducing their territory, and poaching. In Indonesia, the sub-species on the islands of Java and Bali have become extinct, and only the Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae ) remains, with fewer than 400 individuals left in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund Photograph: Bambang Wirawa
Burrowing worms that play a pivotal role in maintaining oxygen and nutrient circulation in the upper layer of sediment on the seabed flush sand out of their burrows. Spain, 2023. Polychaete worms flush sand out of their burrows amid a seagrass bed in the Spanish Mediterranean. All seagrass beds across the Ocean, and large amounts of sealife rely on the riches of infauna to thrive. The unsung activity of these ever hidden worms has massive consequences at a global scale Photograph: Angel Fitor
A paper nautilus perched on a group of salps, Philippines, 2024. A small female paper nautilus ( Argonauta argo ) perches on a group of salps – a type of animal plankton – in Anilao's blackwater in the Philippines. She uses these as a platform while she protects and lays her eggs inside her delicate, coiled shell. The salps, drifting with the current, provide a temporary resting place for this fascinating cephalopod, illustrating the unique interactions between species in the open sea Photograph: Pietro Formis
A leafy seadragon, Australia, 2024. A leafy seadragon ( Phycodurus eques ) drifts gracefully beneath the Rapid Bay jetty in South Australia. The 'holy grail' of South Australian underwater photography, this elusive creature is a master of disguise, with leaf-like appendages that blend seamlessly with its seaweed-covered surroundings. Rapid Bay is one of the few places in the world where divers can encounter this remarkable species in its natural habitat, a reminder of the diversity hidden beneath the waves Photograph: Daniel Sly
A lion's mane jellyfish swims past an iceberg in Greenland, 2019. Autumn in the East Greenland fjords, near Tasiilaq, is teeming with life, especially planktonic species ranging from tiny copepods to large jellyfish such as this lion's mane jellyfish ( Cyanea capillata ) with its long stinging tentacles drifting elegantly through the water Photograph: Galice Hoarau
An iceberg drifting on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, Iceland, 2024. This photo was taken in March, when the surface of Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Iceland was partially frozen and blocks of ice were breaking away from the Vatnajökull glacier and drifting slowly towards the ocean Photograph: Michaël Arzur
A fight between two female musk oxen, Norway, 2021. The image was captured in Norway's Drovefjil national park, where the musk ox ( Ovibos moschatus ) was reintroduced several years ago for its conservation. It is normal for males of this species to engage in fierce battles during the mating season but unusual for two females Photograph: Miquel Angel Artús Illana
Combat between two male stag beetles, Italy, 2022. During the mating season, male stag beetles ( Lucanus cervus ) go into a frenzy, with lively but harmless clashes, in which bigger males often have the advantage over smaller ones due to their impressive mandibles. Longer larval development and genetic traits can increase the size of some individuals, but all saproxylic beetles are threatened by poor forest management, logging and dead wood removal to 'clean' the forest Photograph: Iacopo Nerozzi
An Andean bear, Colombia, 2023. The highland rainforests of the Andes are among the densest, coldest, and most humid forests on Earth. They are home to the only bear species native to South America: the Andean bear, also known as the 'spectacled bear' ( Tremarctos ornatus ). Unfortunately, it is threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and poaching. A camera trap system was used, enabling this amazing animal to be captured in its natural environment without any human interaction Photograph: Santiago J Monroy García
Coho Salmon and fry, USA, 2023. In the Pacific north-west the relationship between fish and forests embodies a sense of connection that seems almost mystical. Delivering a pulse of nutrients, returning adult salmon nourish some of the largest trees in the world, and in return, these ancient guardians provide a foundation for the complex conditions that salmon and trout rely upon Photograph: David Herasimtschuk
Elderly Indochinese tigress on a tiger farm, Thailand, 2023. An elderly Indochinese tiger ( Panthera tigris corbetti ) rests her fragile body against the concrete wall of her enclosure on a tiger farm in northern Thailand. For over 20 years, she was trapped inside this cage and used as a breeding machine, producing cubs for industries ranging from tiger tourism to the illegal trade in tiger skins, teeth, bones, claws, and meat Photograph: Amy Jones
Elephant in the middle of a sea of waste, Sri Lanka, 2023. A lone elephant is spotted here feasting on a very vibrant patch of a vast garbage site. As some of the largest waste dumping sites are placed very much close to the 'important dry zone' forests in Sri Lanka, elephants regularly visit these sites, looking for an easy meal and finally absorbing microplastics and polythene along with the food, which are life threatening elements Photograph: Lakshitha Karunarathna
Rattlesnakes in a pit, Texas, United States, 2020. During the Jaycee's Rattlesnake Round-Up in Sweetwater, Texas, children observe hundreds of western diamondback rattlesnakes ( Crotalus atrox ) crowded into a pit, some of which suffocate to death. Started in 1958, the event is held annually at the Nolan County Coliseum in Newman Park. Snakes are captured from the wild, sold to the Round-Up, and kept in pits. After measuring, sexing, and extracting venom, the snakes are killed for their skin, meat, and organs Photograph: Javier Aznar
Baby loggerhead sea turtle in a recovery centre, Spain, 2022. A baby loggerhead turtle is offered its first ever jellyfish in a tank as part of a head starting program in Valencia, Spain. A crew of veterinarians and biologists at L´Oceanografic Foundation raise the hatchings from nests digged on tourist-crowded beaches during a year to grant at least a part of those clutches a chance of survival Photograph: Angel Fitor
.Giant armadillo's paw, Pantanal region, Brazil, 2023. The hind leg of a young giant armadillo ( Priodontes maximus ), approximately one and a half years old, is held by biologist Gabriel Massocato, the fieldwork coordinator of the Giant Armadillo project. For the past 14 years, Gabriel has dedicated his life to protecting this species through extensive scientific research Photograph: Fernando Faciole
Young giant anteater undergoing rehabilitation, Brazil, 2024. When they are very young, giant anteaters depend on constant attention from caregivers, who often need to take the animals home overnight. This juvenile was found clinging to its mother who had been run over and it was the moment of the last feeding in the office of the day. After being fed, the animals are encouraged to walk around the facilities to exercise and develop their instincts
Photograph: Fernando Faciole
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The Independent
9 hours ago
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