Best Animal Photos from the Year
Spotting a rare white humpback whale. Coming face to face with lions. Hanging out with albatross on the most remote atoll in the world. This year we have seen some incredible animal images. We've rounded up our most exciting, beautiful, and interesting images from the year. Enjoy.
And first up, this rare white humpback whale [top image] that made a splash in the news after being spotted near Norway.
1. The Lion's Maw
Credit: William Burrard-Lucas
Easily the most popular post on lions we published all year are these images from Will Burrard-Lucas using his BeetleCam to get closer to a pride of lions without risking life and limb.
2. Grizzly Chase
Credit: Jaymi Heimbuch
Experiencing grizzly bears chasing down salmon right in front of me was an experience I'll never forget. More grizzlies and wildlife from Katmai National Park in this slideshow.
3. Albino Albatross Chicks
Credit: Jaymi Heimbuch
During our trek to Midway Atoll, a famous and incredibly remote place in the middle of the Pacific ocean, we were lucky enough to hang out with not one but three rare leucistic Laysan albatross chicks. While unusual, they were no less adorable.
4. Not Something You See Everyday
Credit: Our Far South
A young seal managed to get its head dangerously entangled in, ahem...a G-string. Thankfully, it was rescued and the unusual ocean debris removed.
5. Award-Winning Self Portrait
Credit: Houston Zoo
Stephen reports, "The good folks at the Houston Zoo recently shared this photograph, captured of a monkey by a (not-so-secret) camera trap on a game reserve in Borneo. "Looks like someone knew about the "hidden" cameras," said the zoo in a tweet."
6. Glistening Snake
Credit: Carlton Ward Jr/CarltonWard.com
Gorgeous images from Carlton Ward Jr during a trip to the Florida Everglades to document the importance of a wildlife corridor.
7. Halloween-Themed Lobster
Credit: New England Aquarium
Stephen writes, "This half-black, half-orange lobster, discovered earlier this week, is the newest and spookiest addition to the New England Aquarium. Experts say that a perfectly symmetrical two-coloured shell combo is known as a 'split', an incredibly rare occurrence appearing in about one out of every 50-100 million lobsters."
8. Amazing Insect Migration
Credit: Luna sin estrellas
A sky full of Monarch butterflies helps tell the story of this amazing migration of millions of insects – and how fragile that migration and the future of these beautiful butterflies really is.
9. Mustangs of America
Credit: Jaymi Heimbuch
Wild horses are an indelible symbol of the west, and of America's history. Yet they're rapidly disappearing from the landscape.
10. Of Dogs and Dolphins
Okay, this is a video and not a photo - but we couldn't not include this in our round-up because it is quite extraordinary and heart-warming.
11. Pink Katydids
Credit: Photo via audubonimages/Flickr
12. Florida Manatees
Credit: Rebecca Jackrel
Between unaware boaters and a changing climate, manatees of Florida are having a tough time surviving. These poignant photographs highlight both their bovine sweetness, and the scars they bear as evidence of their struggle.
13. A Feast for Lions
Credit: Will Burrard-Lucas
We love the BeetleCam, and we were excited when later this year, Will Burrard-Lucas showed us more incredible images taken with this remote controlled camera - this time of cubs feasting on a fresh kill.
14. Backyard Birds
Credit: Bryson Lovett via Kickstarter
Some surprisingly great images came from a hand-made device that hides a camera - namely an iPhone or a GoPro - inside a bird feeder. The results are wonderful.
15. Timelapse and Gratitude
While this is not an amazing animal photo, it does say something about our use of photography and comprehending the natural world. Essentially, Photography + Time = Wonder.
Top image: Credit: YouTube
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