Can you spot the smirk? Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s finalists are revealed – here’s how to pick your favourite
The public is given the chance to vote for their favorite nature image from a shortlist, from flamingos under power lines to a sloth protecting its baby from the rain.
A ‘truly outstanding’ series of 24 images were chosen for the Nuveen People’s Choice Award for Wildlife Photographer of the Year, with people around the world able to vote online.
A swimming crab riding a jellyfish at night, a baby pangolin at a rescue centre, a bear with a butterfly on its nose taking shelter in the oven to protect itself from the rain, a polar bear family resting in the summer heat and baby kestrels preparing to escape are among the shortlisted images.
They also include a ‘superpod’ of spinner dolphins, a huge pile of traps seized from a national park in Uganda and young bear cubs playing on a road silhouetted against the glare of car headlights.
The photographs, which document the natural world and the threats it faces, were selected from more than 60,000 entries in the annual competition and are in addition to the 100 winning photographs announced in October.
A brown-throated three-toed sloth mother cradles her babies in her arms to protect them from the rain
A young bobcat playfully throws a rodent into the air, killing it and swallowing it, at Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain.
Brush-tailed possum Joey mirrors his mother climbing a branch while searching for food in Miena, Tasmania
An ambush insect nymph lies motionless in a flower, waiting for its prey to move around in reaction, in Ferndale, Michigan.
A sun bear sheltered from the rain in a kiln in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand
Against the darkness of the sea at night, a swimming baby crab hitches a ride on a jellyfish
A leucistic otter feeds on catfish in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Mother polar bear and her three cubs stand peacefully in the summer heat
A polar bear cub looks at the camera as he accompanies his mother on an unsuccessful hunting expedition
A rare tiger with broad, dark stripes roams a tiger reserve in India
A mountainous pile of confiscated traps lies behind Uganda Wildlife Agency rangers
An elusive, red-vented ground cuckoo grabs a cicada from deep in the rainforest in Costa Rica
A group of flamingos stand out against the industrial backdrop of power lines
A pangolin cub nestles in the warmth of a blanket at a rescue center in South Africa
Sarus crane parent shares an intimate and touching moment with her week-old chick
The striking eyes of a curious lion-tailed macaque and its cub running along the road are on display
A sika deer carries the interlocking severed head of a rival male that died after battle. In autumn, male sika deer fight over females by clashing their antlers.
Male magnificent spatuletail hummingbird displays his long tail while feeding on flowers
Three young kestrels prepare to jump from their nest onto a nearby beam
A spectacular superpod of spinner dolphins drives anglerfish to the ocean surface
A cellar spider, sometimes known as daddy long legs, carries a ball of precious eggs in its mouth.
A pair of young bear cubs stand up and fight, silhouetted in the middle of a quiet road in Canada’s Jasper National Park
In Phuket, Thailand, a small male sits on the abdomen of a well-camouflaged female broad-headed bark spider, waiting for it to molt and be ready to mate.
Dr Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in London, said: ‘Wherever you are in the world, it’s time to join the jury and vote for the Nuveen People’s Choice Award to select the set of photographs to display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum.
‘Whether showcasing captivating behavior or conveying a powerful story, this year’s selection of visuals is truly outstanding and we can’t wait to see which will be chosen as the public’s favourite.’
The public will be able to vote for their favorite image in the exhibition at the Natural History Museum on digital screens or online; The winning work and the four runners-up will be announced on March 25 and will be exhibited in the exhibition.
