From stunning animal portraits to captivating glimpses of behaviour in their natural habitat, the World Nature Photography Awards contest showcases the intricate relationship between animals, plants, fungi, and humans.
Three winners -- Gold, Silver and Bronze -- in every category are chosen.
The World Nature Photography Awards, which is based in London, has awarded its top prize to Maruša Puhek of Slovenia.
Here are 14 gold entries, in no particular winning order, plus 2 bronze entries that stood out to us.
Gold Award: Tom Nickels, Behaviour MammalsThe bear was totally ignoring us, revealing a surprising playfulness. The behaviour reminded me of an energetic and playful golden retriever fetching a stick. Photograph: Tom Nickels/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Georgina Steytler, Behaviour amphibians and reptiles
We admit that these irascible little fellows are amphibious fish rather than amphibians but don't begrudge this chap his winning place in this category. Photograph: Georgina Steytler/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Khaichuin Sim, Animal Portrait
Perched on the textured bark of a tree, these insects seem to glow against the dark background. Photograph: Khaichuin Sim/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Niki Colemont, Behaviour Invertebrates
Nearby, a spider lurked ominously, and I couldn't help but wonder -- what if the spider ensnared the fly in its web? Intrigued, I decided to stay and watch.
For the next 30 minutes, I observed nature's quiet drama. Finally, the spider made its move, and I captured the moment. Photograph: Nikki Colemont/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Jake Mosher, Planet Earth's landscape and environments
I wanted the sharp reflection, but until this past summer made the five-mile hike multiple times in vain -- wind was my nemesis, shifting shoreline reeds and making alignment of the panorama impossible.
Finally, in July 2023, I had 26 dead calm minutes and, running two cameras, captured the scene I'd imagined for a long time.
I remained on scene all night and at dawn noticed a few obsidian shards near where I'd set up my cameras.
I loved thinking that, for thousands of years, people have looked up at the night sky here with much the same wonder I feel today.
I hope we never unravel all of our universe's mysteries. Photograph: Jake Mosher/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Ael Kermarec, Nature photojournalism
This drone flight illustrates in a rather brutal and dramatic way this powerful act of nature reclaiming its rights.
Little did I know that this event was only the first of a yet-to-be-over series of similar episodes spreading even further out each time.
More episodes took place in the very same area in 2024, showing that, after 800 years of calm on the Reykjanes peninsula, we have now definitely entered a challenging period of volcanic unrest. Photograph: Ael Kermarec/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Robert Middleton, People and Nature
Amid this tranquil beauty, an undercurrent of concern adds depth to the moment. The issue of overfishing, even on this seemingly small scale, looms large, casting a shadow over the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
Photograph: Robert Middleton/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Marcio Esteves Cabral, Plants and Fungi
I captured the harmony between the vivid sky and these unique backlit plants. These rare flowers are part of the Cerrado biome, which is at risk of deforestation. Photograph: Marcio Esteves Cabral/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Clive Burns, Behaviour Birds
I had photographed this incredible event many times previously but it was on this occasion only that the birds flew in a direction that was parallel to me allowing me to get many of the birds in sharp focus. Photograph: Clive Burns/World Nature Photography Awards.
Gold Award: Benjamin Smail, Urban Wildlife
This image captures the striking contrast between a colossal fuel depot in Mandinari, Gambia, and a male Pin-tailed Whydah in full breeding plumage.
Taken during an October trip, this moment is particularly special as the bird will soon undergo transformation into a more brown, drab plumage.
During the breeding season, coinciding with the rainy season in West Africa, I enjoy capturing this kind of photography to illustrate the connection between humanity and nature.
Gambia holds a special place in my heart, as I run two trips a year there. I would love for this image to connect with people and encourage them to explore birding in Gambia, helping to boost eco-tourism in this beautiful region. Photograph: Benjamin Smail/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Daniel Flormann, Underwater
Sea turtles, known in the local language Tetum as 'Lenuk Tasi', return to the very beaches where they once hatched to lay their own eggs. Sadly, these fragile nests face numerous threats, from natural predators to human activities.
Yet, even if hatchlings make it to the ocean, only an estimated one in 1,000 to 10,000 survives to adulthood.
This image was made possible by the turtle conservation group called Lenuk Tasi, led by marine science students from Dili, whose dedication helps protect these incredible creatures. Photograph: Daniel FLormann/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Paul Goldstein, Black and White
We drove to the nearest dry grass and waited, gambling on them dragging it there to feed. They did and got some shade from the vehicle too enabling a very wide angle image.
This image is not taken by a drone. They are rightfully, and thankfully, banned in these priceless conservancies. Photograph: Paul Goldstein/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Malini Chandrasekar, Animals in their habitat
So, when we found a walrus resting on some pack ice in the tundra under the moody skies, I took advantage of this and used my 14-30mm at 18mm.
I positioned myself low and lined him up just right, in amongst the fjord, crossing the horizon line and central to my story. Photograph: Malini Chandrasekar/World Nature Photography Awards
Gold Award: Maruša Puhek, Nature Art and Overall Winner.
It was a snowy day and I only had a wide-angle lens with me when I spotted two deer running through the snowy vineyard. I took a few shots, frustrated that I didn't have a telephoto lens with me.
Only later, while editing, did I realise how lucky I was; the scene wasn't overly zoomed in, allowing the snowy surroundings to remain an essential part of the composition. Photograph: Maruša Puhek /World Nature Photography Awards
Apart from the Gold winners here are two winners that stood out as well.
Bronze Award: Donna Feldichuk, Behaviour MammalsBronze Award: Rajarshi Banerji, Animals in their habitat - Can you spot the animal?
But on this particular night, she was chased by another leopard after making the kill and she went up the first tree that she could find to defend her kill.
Luckily for me, this was a fallen tree with an open branch and allowed her to be seen sitting with her kill in the open.
I exposed for 30 secs for the stars and used a flashlight for 1 second in between to capture the black panther and the details of the tree -- all in a single frame. Photograph: Rajarshi Banerji/World Nature Photography Awards
Please click here to view all the fabulous 43 winning entries from the World Nature Photography Awards 2025.
You can also order Nature photography prints and canvases for your home or office from the online WNPA store
Published with kind permission from Martin Konderla/World Nature Photography Awards