Butterfly Kiss! The very best of nature photography revealed
A satiated polar bear after a kill, a butterfly captivating a silverback gorilla and more… These raw, powerful scenes capturing nature at its most real are sure to get you excited and wild!
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<strong>Tails and Paws</strong>: The image captured in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda shows the paws and tails of tree-dwelling African lions. Image Courtesy: Dvir Barkay/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Moose in Snow:</strong> A moose captured amid a snowstorm in southern Norway. Image Courtesy: Pål Hermansen/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Polar Meal:</strong> A polar bear catches a walrus. Preying on a walrus is rare and difficult for polar bears, but in this case, the walrus was likely sick or disabled. The bear appeared content and relaxed beside its prey. Image Courtesy: Pål Hermansen/NPOTY 2025
<strong>The Hidden Grail of Sumatra Island:</strong> A Sumatran tiger, (Panthera tigris sumatrae), a critically endangered subspecies native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, is captured in all his glory. Image Courtesy: Vladimir Cech Jr/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Shared Wonder:</strong> Beneath the lush canopy of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, a vibrant butterfly captivates the attention of a silverback gorilla. Image Courtesy: Mary Schrader/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Blue Army:</strong> A massive swarm of Danube mayflies approaches the illuminated city of Szentendre, Hungary. Drawn by the city lights through their strong positive phototaxis, millions of insects swarmed toward the brightly lit promenade. Image Courtesy: Imre Potyó/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Lioness Eyes Behind Birds:</strong> Aflock of small birds takes flight while one lioness drinks. The lioness kept a watchful eye on the birds, as lions are natural hunters and anything that moves interests them. However, she made no attempt to catch or chase them away. Image Courtesy: Willem Kruger/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Inferno</strong>: Blazing flames, glowing tree trunks, and illuminated plumes of smoke. In July 2022, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains experienced their largest documented forest fire. Image Courtesy: Tobias Richter/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Difficult Crossing:</strong> A lynx traverses a barbed wire fence in Dulan County, Qinghai Province, China. Image Courtesy: Xingchao Zhu/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Featherhome</strong>: In Tulamben, Bali, while exploring feather stars, the photographer came across a crinoid shrimp (Laomenes amboinensis). Perfectly camouflaged in both colour and pattern, it clung tightly to its host, spending most of its time motionless and relying on the feather star for protection as well as for food drifting in the current. Image Courtesy: Luis Arpa Toribio/NPOTY 2025
<strong>Sundance</strong>: The photo was taken just outside Oslo on a hot summer day. At first glance, a bird appears to depict leaves against a cosmic sky – but on closer inspection, each shape reveals itself as a bird. Image Courtesy: Åsmund Keilen/NPOTY 2025
Silent Scream: A struggling chick, now lying defenceless on the ground, is swarmed by crabs that began devouring it alive. It was heartbreaking to witness, but the photographer chose not to interfere with the natural order. Image Courtesy: Bence Máté /NPOTY 2025