An Arctic Tern repeatedly flies back and forth in front of a glacier. When glaciers break off and calve into the sea, they churn up a significant amount of sea plankton and small fish, providing an ideal opportunity for the Tern to dive and feed.

A Guarani Indigenous young man wields a bow and arrow during a protest against the "Marco Temporal" bill, which threatens to restrict the recognition of new Indigenous reservations. Environmentalists and human rights advocates view this decision as a significant setback.

Intrigued by Mount Etna's subtle activity suggesting a potential new eruption, Gianluca journeyed to the site for a close-up observation. Arriving just in time, he documented the breathtaking eruptive spectacle on December 1, 2023. The event was marked by powerful explosions and mesmerizing lava flows.

A blue crab navigates the currents of an underwater river system in Yucatan, illuminated by the soft glow filtering down from the Cenote above. The water takes on a golden tint, infused by the rich concentration of tannic acid from the surrounding mangrove forest.

Amidst the chaos in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Region, Irina, a waitress at Ria Pizza, becomes trapped under rubble after a devastating Russian Iskander K missile. The bustling restaurant, a beloved gathering spot, falls victim to the horrors of war, claiming the lives of 13 civilians and leaving 61 others wounded.

This tiny crab found refuge in a sponge, where it carefully guards its precious orange eggs. The eye contact, its perch atop the sponge, and the eggs cradled by its claws all come together to create this compelling environmental portrait.

At El Rosario sanctuary, within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, during the harsh winter months, millions of monarch butterflies gather in a warm embrace, transforming the oyamel fir trees into a vibrant mosaic of colors. The golden rays penetrating the forest create a magical atmosphere.

In Andalusia, there's a saying: "An Andalusian man without a horse is like a matador without a cape." Horses are an integral part of the culture and daily life of this region. From a young age, children begin to familiarize themselves with these magnificent animals. Here, a boy soothes his horse amidst the bustling festivities of La Línea in southern Andalusia.

Adam Chasey, once a biologist in the Everglades, paddleboards amongst weather-beaten cypress trees under the light of a full moon. Nighttime often offers the best opportunity to explore swamps and encounter unique wildlife such as alligators and snakes.

An adult male Agile frog (Rana dalmatina), likely taking a well-deserved rest after mating. Surrounding him are the masses of eggs, a testament to his contribution to the cycle of life.

A glimmer of hope radiates from this turtle as it returns to the ocean after laying its eggs in the turtle reserve in Oman. With the ongoing threat of extinction looming over its species, there is a sense of optimism that its efforts will contribute to the survival and proliferation of its kind.

Near the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, Will Gadd and Sarah Hueniken climb on glacial ice. These unique ice features rest on rock and sand located within the crater of Mount Kilimanjaro.

A female paper nautilus or Argonaut, carrying her egg case, rides a small jellyfish during a blackwater dive. These otherworldly creatures, just 2 cm in size, rise to the surface at night to aerate their eggs and feed. Using their beaks, they extract nutrients from the jellyfish.

Two young sea lion pups frolic in their 'pup pond' at Los Islotes, the southernmost rookery of California sea lions in Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Here, amidst the safety of this protected rocky pool, the new pups learn to swim and socialize, ensuring a fun and playful environment for all!

Buryatian Shaman Vitali performs a ritual to connect with the spirits on frozen Lake Baikal, with the sacred Ogoi cape in the background. Lake Baikal is considered the most sacred place of Siberia’s shamanism.

A storm rages over the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. This arid realm, home to the planet's richest variety of cacti, faces a dangerous threat from climate change.

This photo was taken on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, capturing swans bathing in a sea on the verge of freezing.

A breathtaking scene unfolds as the danish Jonas Vingegaard of Team Jumbo-Visma, wearing the Yellow leader jersey, leads the peloton through a picturesque sunflower field during stage eight of the 110th Tour de France 2023 on July 8th in Limoges.

In the Gaza Strip, smoke and flames fill the sky as Israeli illumination flares light up the night over the Al-Shati refugee camp on November 6, 2023.

As Alessandro snapped photos in the mudflat by Lake Porta in Tuscany during lunchtime, an extraordinary sight unfolded: an Italian green frog, with a lightning-fast leap, captured a centipede and began devouring it.

Nestled in a remote hangar amidst the vast steppes of Kazakhstan rests a relic of Soviet space exploration: the "Buran" space shuttle. Nestled in a remote hangar amidst the vast steppes of Kazakhstan rests a relic of Soviet space exploration: the "Buran" space shuttle. After more than 30 years in obscurity, its condition is deteriorating. Eventually, it will fade away and return to the stars.

A common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) flying out of its roost just before sunrise. The photo was captured using a sensor while I was sleeping next to the tree, fortunately without any loss of bodily fluids.

Dr. Richard Harvey, wary of losing sight of the rest of the elephant herd, climbs onto the highest point he can find—the elephant bull he is fitting with a GPS collar—to make contact with the spotter plane. In 2023, 126 animals from 12 species were collared in South Sudan.

When it rains, the frog pairs come down to the river to spawn.
After fleeing attacks from other males, they finally reach their spawning site.
Once they lay eggs, they return to the mountains, leaving behind a brief but captivating story that unfolds over just one week.

During a nighttime freedive in the waters of Bacoli in the Gulf of Naples, Salvatore managed to capture the image of a white spotted octopus gliding beneath the sea’s surface. By tilting his camera, he immortalized its enchanting reflection.

A solitary fisherman casts his net under the enchanting glow of golden hour, creating a mesmerizing scene captured from a drone's perspective. The soft, warm tones of the sunlight paint a stunning backdrop as the fisherman tends to his catch, destined to be transformed into the rich flavors of fish sauce.

As the sun sets, the enchanting 'blue hour' descends upon N'gouja Beach, home to green turtles. These majestic creatures, abundant in the Mayotte lagoon of the Indian Ocean, are familiar with human company, often approachable by day, yet they vanish as night falls.

On March 29, 2023, a migrant child is tossed in the air in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as migrants cross the Rio Grande into the United States from Mexico. Among the thousands making the journey that day, many are from Venezuela.

In the heart of a bustling procession in Kathmandu, Karlynne sought solace in a blue-walled alley. As she patiently observed, silhouettes of passersby painted the scene. Suddenly, an elderly gentleman emerged, quietly witnessing the festivities, his reflection mirrored in a motorcycle. She seized a moment of calm amid Kathmandu's chaos.

While wandering the streets of Rome, Fabio was captivated by the graphics on a billboard and the way the light streamed through. Envisioning the shot, he waited patiently to capture a moment of intriguing juxtaposition.

A group of adult Chinook salmon congregates in a small pool as they migrate to their spawning waters. This species is currently of conservation concern due to significant declines across its native range in Western North America.

A mirror carp and a scaly carp appear to be kissing in the lake, reminiscent of a romantic moment between a man and a woman. This enchanting moment was captured in Lake Čierna Voda, Slovakia.

As the wildebeest falls prey to the relentless pursuit of four cheetahs, the victorious hunters remain ever vigilant, their gaze speaking volumes about the untamed world around them.

Blackburn Rovers' Tyrhys Dolan celebrates scoring the winning goal against Blackpool FC by performing a backflip during the Sky Bet Championship match at Ewood Park, Blackburn. In this image, he appears to be levitating or being beamed up.

A family, with a young child, makes their way through razor wire along the border wall separating the US and Mexico in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Originating from Venezuela, they are among the multitude of migrants seeking a new beginning in the United States.

A man, standing with his hyena, is getting ready before the show, in one of the small villages of the desertic north-eastern Nigeria. He is a traditional storyteller, weaving a mesmerizing street circus that blends ancient mystique with the art of storytelling.

Orangutans are forced to perform in shows across Asia, as seen here at Safari World in Bangkok. Afterward, they are exploited for selfie sessions, despite the potential for disease transmission. In the past, orangutans were seized from Safari World after DNA tests confirmed they were being illegally trafficked.