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Breathtaking Images Showcase the Battle to Safeguard Earths Diverse Biodiversity
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Breathtaking Images Showcase the Battle to Safeguard Earth’s Diverse Biodiversity

Malaysian tropical longhorn beetle

Kim Hee Yu

“It had an unusual expression, reminiscent of an alien, but it wasn’t hostile. It remained motionless on the branch throughout,” said Kim Hui Yu, the photographer of the long-eared longhorn beetle during a family visit to Gunung Jerai on Malaysia’s west coast.

A light bulb inside the mosquito net drew invertebrates during the night. In the morning, she selected the most vibrant ones for photographs. “I want to raise awareness that every creature, even the tiniest, has its place. So we must protect our forests.”

The image titled alien is one of eight featured in the Natural History Museum’s 2025 Biodiversity Exhibit. Visit the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, opening in London on October 17th. The collection includes images from past contests.

The exhibit also showcases a large map illustrating biodiversity levels based on the Biodiversity Intact Index developed by museum researchers.

Image by Hilary O'Leary This four-month-old black rhino calf was found dehydrated and lost in the African bush. Black rhinos are known for hiding their young. Here, evidence shows that a bull white rhino came across a hidden calf and mistakenly followed it. The pups are being raised as wildly as possible with minimal human intervention. However, protection and feeding are required until the age of two and a half to three years, when rhinos usually become independent from their mothers. One morning, on her way to work, Hilary spotted the calf among a group of anti-poaching scouts getting ready for the day. ?It was as if he was part of the team, ?she says, ``a reminder of why we must fight so hard to save his species.'' The black rhino is on the verge of extinction. Poaching for the international trade in rhino horn caused rhino numbers to plummet by 98% between 1960 and 1995, but remains the biggest threat to rhinos. Rhino horn is primarily in demand for traditional (and more recently modern) herbal medicine and for decorative purposes (e.g. dagger handles in some Middle Eastern countries). Recognizing the power of photography to convey a message, Hilary captured these small moments that tell a much larger story.

4 month old black rhino calf

Hilary O’Leary

Hannah McCartney, who oversees the contest, emphasizes the significant influence of images. The aim is to motivate viewers to notice and act. A prime example includes Innocent Betrayed by Hilary O’Leary, showcasing a four-month-old black rhino calf interacting with an anti-poaching scout, captured while the calf was lost in the brush.

Image by Mark Graf The sun beamed down on the peak, prompting Mark to hike for atmospheric sunset shots. The lower slope was shrouded in dense clouds, but as he ascended, the clouds thinned. By day’s end, Mark gazed down at the soft glow of the sunset streaming through the mist, witnessing 'a world full of fluff.' Berchtesgaden, a national park in the German Alps, spans over 200 square kilometers of protected forests, valleys, glaciers, and mountains. A wild haven in Central Europe, it shelters red deer, roe deer, marmots, chamois, and ibex, along with golden eagles that nest at the northernmost edge of the European Alps.

Berchtesgaden National Park in the German Alps

marc graff

high and wild, captured by Mark Graf, presents a different perspective on the potential losses of nature. This shot shows trees and rocks emerging from sunlit clouds within Berchtesgaden’s national park.

Image by Jaime Culeblas Jaime sought this specific species of harlequin toad while collaborating with a conservation group. Were the pair he found in Amplexus? This mating behavior involves the male fertilizing eggs released by the female. They may stay in this position for weeks. How to catch a toad? Vibrantly colored and patterned, Jaime strategically placed flashes around the branches. This species may survive, but like many amphibians, it faces risks from fungal diseases affecting the skin's superficial layers. This fungus has led to numerous species of harlequin toads becoming endangered or extinct. Thankfully, with monitoring and habitat protection, the chances of survival for this toad are improving.

Intimate moments between harlequin toads

Jaime Culeblas

Jaime Culebras’ happy couple captures mating harlequin toads in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park, home to numerous endangered species.

Lord Howe Island and its surrounding waters support the world's southernmost tropical coral reef. The unique combination of tropical and temperate species and habitats is the result of converging streams. More than 318 species of marine algae live here, of which 47 (15%) are endemic. The distinctive algae-dominated coral reefs of the southern lagoon are a unique feature of Lord Howe Island's marine ecosystem, which is being studied by marine rangers.

Caitlin Woods, marine ranger off Lord Howe Island

Justin Gilligan

rich reflections by Justin Gilligan captures marine ranger Caitlin Woods snorkeling among the vibrant seaweed off Lord Howe Island, located between Australia and New Zealand.

Images by Morgan Heim Morgan Heim (USA) reveals the intimate encounter between a beetle and a rabbit. Morgan set up camera traps outside pygmy rabbit burrows in Washington state's Columbia Basin and watched them come and go. She was overjoyed to capture the moment one of the rabbits smelled a stink bug hiding in its burrow. This beetle does not seem to feel threatened by the burrow's owner and will usually lift its abdomen and emit a foul odor when threatened. As Morgan discovered, the pygmy rabbit is the only native North American rabbit that digs burrows, which provide refuge for many other species, including stink bugs, pygmy shorthorn lizards, and chipmunks. Conservation efforts were needed to protect these rabbits as their habitat in the Columbia Basin became increasingly overgrazed and cleared for crops. Today, the population of pygmy rabbits in the basin is about 150 and growing, thanks to the introduction of captive-bred animals, vaccination against infectious diseases and protection of scrub-grassland habitats.

Interspecies showdown

Morgan Heim

A close encounter between a pygmy rabbit and a stink bug, both found in rabbit burrows, was captured in burrow mate by Morgan Heim in the Columbia Basin, Washington.

Image by Owen Hearn Is it harvest time for Owen's grandparents? Birds of prey flock to the farm to eat small mammals that escape, and Owen, holding a camera, is fascinated. ?Seeing this red kite with the plane in the distance was a can't-miss moment, ?Owen says. This shot is iconic for him for two reasons. This photo was taken in the heart of the Bedfordshire site chosen as London's third airport in the late 1960s. ?The construction of the airport was canceled due to opposition to the planned airport. That's why today you can take photos of wild animals on your farm. ?At the same time, the red kite in Britain was also threatened with extinction after centuries of persecution. However, since their reintroduction, their numbers have increased dramatically and they are spreading eastward from the Chilterns.

Red kite takes off in the UK

owen hearn

flight path: Owen Hearn’s image juxtaposes the close-up of a red kite with a distant airplane silhouette. This pivotal photo was taken at a Bedfordshire site once selected as London’s third major airport, a project halted due to public opposition. Currently, this location offers a unique vantage point for wildlife photography. While the red kite population has dramatically recovered following its near extinction due to historical persecution, Britain remains one of the most depleted nations in terms of wildlife.

Laurent Ballesta (France) endures sub-zero diving to uncover the diversity of life beneath Antarctic ice. 32 meters beneath the East Antarctic ice, the ocean floor off Adélie Land is dotted with living towers of marine invertebrates. At its center is a tree-shaped cavernous body covered with a variety of creatures, from giant ribbon worms to starfish. Antarctica's extreme conditions and isolation are responsible for its incredible underwater biodiversity. It is home to an estimated 17,000 species of marine invertebrates, many of which are found nowhere else in the world and are highly adapted, making them vulnerable to rising water temperatures.

Life beneath the ice off the coast of Antarctica

Laurent Ballesta

Laurent Ballesta’s pyramid of life illustrates the biodiversity thriving beneath East Antarctica’s ice, featuring giant ribbon worms and starfish.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is celebrating its 61st year, with judges evaluating a record 60,000 entries, compared to just 341 in 1965. Winners will be revealed on October 14th.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

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