The Best Wildlife Pictures of 2017

Every year, thousands of photographers submit pictures to London’s Natural History Museum in hopes of being crowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year. From seals under the ice to a hungry arctic fox, 2017’s pictures are pretty amazing! Here are a few of the finalists:

Swim gym by Laurent Ballesta (France)

A mother seal and her pup play under the ice in east Antarctica. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Mammals.

Swim gym
Photograph: Laurent Ballesta/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Arctic treasure by Sergey Gorshkov (Russia)

A hungry arctic fox snatches an egg from a snow goose nest. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits.

Arctic Treasure
Photograph: Sergey Gorshkov/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Glimpse of a lynx by Laura Albiac Vilas (Spain)

A lynx living in the Sierra de Andújar natural park in Spain. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years.

Glimpse of a lynx
Photograph: Laura Albiac Vilas/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Winter pause by Mats Andersson (Sweden)

A squirrel trying to keep warm on a cold winter morning. Finalist 2017, Black and White.

Winter pause
Photograph: Mats Andersson/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

The insiders by Qing Lin (China)

Clown fish and the parasitic isopods that live inside their mouths. Finalist 2017, Under Water.

The insiders
Photograph: Qing Lin/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Bold eagle by Klaus Nigge (Germany)

A very wet bald eagle. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits

Bold eagle
Photograph: Klaus Nigge/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Sewage surfer by Justin Hofman (US)

A seahorse catches a ride on a floating cottonbud near Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single Image

Sewage surfer
Photograph: Justin Hofman/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Saguaro twist by Jack Dykinga (US)

A saguaro cacti in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert National Monument. Finalist 2017, Plants and Fungi

Saguaro twist
Photograph: Jack Dykinga/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Bear hug by Ashleigh Scully (US)

A young brown bear cub wants to play. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years

bear hug
Photograph: Ashleigh Scully/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

Resplendent delivery by Tyohar Kastiel (Israel)

A male resplendent quetzal on its way to deliver food to its chicks. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Birds

Resplendent delivery
Photograph: Tyohar Kastiel/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 
 

The power of the matriarch by David Lloyd (New Zealand/UK)

A female elephant from Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits

The Power of the matriarch-large
Photograph: David Lloyd/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
 

Let us know which of these pictures is your favourite!

 

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596 COMMENTS

  1. The pictures were soooo cute!
    My favorite one is the sea horse!
    I also like the seals!
    Oh! the fox is cute too!
    I REAAALLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY REALLY REALLY LOVE ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I’m also really proud of my self that i became an earth ranger (Almost)