Wild Pics That Totally WOW’d Us: Nature’s Best 2025 Edition

"Picture this: a lone Sri Lankan elephant standing tall, but not in the wild forest like you’d expect. Nope, it’s surrounded by heaps of plastic, polythene, and household junk cluttering its space. This photo is part of a bigger project showing how elephants and humans clash over land in Sri Lanka. With over 10% of the world's Asian elephants chilling here, it’s heartbreaking to see them stuck chewing on dangerous plastic that can seriously hurt or kill them. Getting this shot was like threading a needle while flying a drone in messy winds – timing the rain, the elephant’s spot on the trash, and the drone’s dance all just right."

"Fog was doing its thing on a chilly morning, gently hugging the famous Cinque Torri towers and nearby mountains. The soft light peeking through made everything look like a dream – like nature’s own smoke machine setting the stage."

"On a chilly, gray November day at Luskentyre Beach, this brittle star left a neat little trail on the sand - like it was signing its name before heading back to the ocean. Alan captured this fleeting masterpiece that tells a tiny but powerful story of nature’s daily rhythm."

"Spring means deer antler season! These new antlers grow fast and are covered in velvet - think of it as a soft, glowing skin. Shot in Kushiro, Japan, the sun caught the velvet just right, making these antlers glow like deer royalty. Kohei patiently waited until the light was perfect, and boom, magic happened."

"Just one night spent with these giants but what a night! Baobab Alley in Madagascar is like the ultimate tree party. These ancient giants, some 800 years old, stand tall against the night sky. Adding the photographer himself in the shot gives scale - these trees are massive!"

"Harry was out for a mountain hike sunrise but got tempted by this peaceful pond covered in autumn fog. As he was setting up, a flock of Canadian geese honked in the distance - and then flew right past him. Timing is everything, and he nailed capturing this lively moment that jazzed up an otherwise calm morning."

"If there’s a Christmas tree in nature, this rusty old tree with its tiny cones might just be it! Amy spotted it being taken over by waxwings, who’d flown in all the way from Canada to chow down on berries. The rusty needles and the birds’ rusty crowns? Total match made in nature heaven."

"In a special hole stuffed with figs, a male great hornbill was doing his darnedest to impress the lady - delivering mud, test landings, and flicking figs like a pro. On the day Lisiqi got this shot, he returned heavy with fruit, skimming close enough to nearly touch the camera. That moment when he hovered midair? Absolutely breathtaking."

"Leafy sea dragons are the unicorns of the sea - so delicate and shy. Nicolas dived solo with a special rebreather (keeps everything super quiet) to spend 22+ hours tracking these three sea dragons. The goal? A perfect, artsy black-background portrait that shows off their delicate leaves and frills while they chill on the reef."

"These little guys are the masters of hide-and-seek on coral reefs. Transparent bodies, sticky fins to cling on, and giant eyes scanning for plankton! Simon caught this ghost goby on a reef in Egypt’s Red Sea - lit perfectly so you can see how brilliantly it disappears among the coral."

"Baobabs aren’t just trees in Madagascar - they’re magical local legends. Felipe caught them at dawn with a perfect mirror reflection, showing off their silhouette symmetry. It’s like they’re posing just for us to say ‘Wow!’"

"To most, deserts look like endless boring sand. But Matteo saw a giant natural gallery - dunes with different shapes, sizes, and textures all carved by the wind. After a week in the Rub' al-Khali, he started spotting shapes and designs that made this desert look like a sandy sculpture park."

"Emperor penguins are the ultimate family team, braving Antarctic chill to keep their chicks warm and safe. Thomas spent hours lying flat on the ice to blend in before quietly capturing this loving moment where parents snuggle their babies amidst the frosty wilderness. It’s penguin hugs to the max!"

"On the striking red sands of Rabida Island, an iron-rich volcanic beach, the Sally Lightfoot crab showed off its wild color palette. Reds, blues, purples - you name it! Kevin lay flat on the sand for the perfect eye-level shot, making this little crab party look even bigger."

"Winter magic: fresh snow, a perfect hill, and some skilled horse riders galloping by the setting sun. Snow and dust flew everywhere, making the atmosphere look like a dusty western flick. Perfect timing and location for David’s camera!"

"This mountain hare seemed totally relaxed, stretching out its back leg straight toward Andy like a fuzzy salute or a high-five. It’s not every day you get an animal this chill and photogenic all at once."

"Two musk oxen locked eyes and light horns in a snowy standoff. Daniel hiked 15 km through fresh snow just to catch this close-up. It’s like a slow-motion showdown up in the Arctic’s chill zone, where only the toughest survive."

"A leopard was just chilling on a fallen tree when an elephant strode by and got curious. Leopard didn’t bat an eye, just watched the big guy sniff around before the elephant decided to keep it moving. No drama, just wild curiosity."

"While snapping a female lemur feeding, Andy’s attention was stolen by a playful youngster on her back. That little rascal grabbed its tail and started spinning it like a fidget toy, pure lemur-style mischief."

"Before sunrise, Mitchell hit the sandy trails hunting for honey possums. After hours of quiet observation and a lucky glimpse, he ended up spending the whole day following a sweet group of these tiny marsupials, including a mom with a baby hiding in her pouch."

"These migratory herons get busy at dawn, especially during spring. Antonio hid in a floating hide, waited in the lake’s water, and snagged this soft, beautiful sunrise moment when the birds were doing their morning thing."

"Caught mid-preen, this gentoo penguin looked like it was putting on a full diva act, bending into cool, funky poses. Charles called this one ‘Penguin Diva’ because, honestly, it’s hard to argue! Penguins spend heaps of time keeping their feathers neat to survive the cold.”"

"These larval tripod fish have big, round fins that help them float like jellyfish, hiding from predators in style. Steven waited for these fins to spread perfectly to snap the most stunning, symmetrical shots on his blackwater dive."

"These gorillas showed their playful side when the younger one kept pestering the elder until it finally had enough and swatted them away. Hiking through Bwindi’s thick forest, the group saw plenty of goofy gorilla moments, proving that even wild apes crack us up."

"In the jungle, Genia and Dad stumbled on a little frog chilling on a hatchling saltwater crocodile’s snout. The baby croc blinked in surprise, like ‘What the heck?!’ but stayed cool. A funny, brief jungle moment that's too good to forget."

"This turtle was peeking around a dome-shaped artificial coral reef called the ‘igloo,’ created to help marine life flourish. After coral was planted, fish and sea critters turned it into a lively neighborhood. The shot’s a cool mix of wildlife freedom and human help."

"Henry runs a grizzly bear workshop every summer and loves hunting unique shots. One day, instead of bears, he found a muddy maze of their footprints. From way up high, he snapped the tracks weaving and crossing on cracked wet mud, lit just so to make them look 3D and mysterious."

"After a fresh snow in Wyoming, a group of photographers was stalking some bull moose. One moose got bored, strolled toward them, and accidentally ended up tasting and pushing a left-behind tripod and camera. The moose inspected it like a curious cat, but the gear was fine, and the humans had quite a laugh!"

"In the heart of Malaysian jungle, two proboscis monkeys showed us that even wild animals can make up with a big bear hug. This moment of chill and happiness is a powerful reminder that animals aren’t so different from us."

"Tracking two jaguars in Brazil’s Pantanal took six days of full-on adventure. After some tense hunt-and-chases, these big cats finally took a break and gave Hira the rare chance to capture them both in a single frame. Talk about winning big!"

"Covered in icy whiskers, this harp seal mama popped up through a hole in thick sea ice to nurse her whitecoat pups. Roberta had to try twice to get close, first by boat and then by helicopter, thanks to ice that was thick enough to block normal boat passage. Sadly, these ice days are rarer now, making moments like this cherished."

"This feisty young polar bear wasn’t your average hunter - she liked to chase walruses about on broken sea ice, turning serious hunting into a playful game. After some fun on the ice edge, she headed off to tackle a reindeer feast. Arctic life is a wild mix of work and play!"

"It started slow, but then two friendly humpback whales decided to say hi in Monterey Bay! They swam close, sometimes lifting their tails or spying on the boat like they were just as curious about us as we were about them."

"Back in February 2021, an Arctic cold front froze everything including turtles! Thousands of green sea turtles got cold-stunned along Laguna Madre Bay. Locals braved freezing doom to rescue over 5,000 turtles, warming and saving them from a chill disaster. This crazy story shows that heroes come in all shapes and sizes - and sometimes they’re turtle whisperers."

"These fall-fighting prairie chickens take to the skies for serious jump-and-strike battles. Peter loves hangin’ out in hides just watching the drama unfold - males throw down in communal arenas, vying for the ladies’ applause. Who’s the winner? The ladies decide!"

"Thibault met a super colorful common owlfly and wanted to show off its delicate wing veins and vibrant hues. By placing a flash behind it and darkening the background, he made the insect’s wings shine like nature’s own stained glass window."

"When sugarcane fields are burned before winter, thousands of insects fly out trying to escape. Drongos aren’t shy; they dive, twist, and dart through smoke and embers like the badass aerial hunters they are. Their glossy black feathers glow against the flames, turning this chaotic hunt into a fiery aerial ballet."