Palm oil Survivors, by Aaron ‘Bertie’ Gekoski, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, single image winner

On the island of Borneo, three generations of elephants cross the terraces of an oil palm plantation being cleared for replanting. The palm oil industry is still a major driver of deforestation, squeezing elephants into smaller pockets of forest. Increasingly they come into conflict with humans, with elephants being shot or poisoned. Attacks on humans are also on the rise.
Photograph: Aaron ‘Bertie’ Gekoski/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017

Heathrow roostings, by Daniel Trim, British Wildlife Photography awards, overall winner and urban category winner

In winter, pied wagtails roost communally in urban areas, both for protection and for the additional warmth given off by buildings and lights. This extra degree or two can make the difference in harsh weather. Here, a single individual out of hundreds is silhouetted by the lights of Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport.
Photograph: Daniel Trim/British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017

Crepuscular Contentment (Derbyshire), by Andrew Parkinson, British Wildlife Photography awards, winner, animal behaviour category

In 15 years of working with badgers, I’ve never seen a badger sit out in the open to have a scratch. I was sat concealed behind a tree and downwind so it was especially nice that the badger had his back to me, demonstrating just how inconspicuous and inconsequential my presence was.
Photograph: Andrew Parkinson/British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017

Pandas Gone Wild, by Ami Vitale, World Press Photo awards, nature category, second prize, stories

At the Hetaoping research and conservation centre in China’s Wolong reserve, captive-bred giant pandas are raised with the hope of one day reintroducing them to the wild. To prevent young pandas from imprinting on and becoming attached to their human caregivers, the centre’s staff wear costumes that mimic the animals’ black and white pattern.This photo also won the Human/Nature category in the Big Picture Competition 2017.
Photograph: Ami Vitale/2017 World Press Photo

Now You See Me, by Bence Máté, World Press Photo awards, nature category, third prize, stories

An elephant and zebra at a watering hole in Zimanga private game reserve, Mkuze, South Africa. Animals pictured at night in their natural habitats.
Photograph: Bence Máté/2017 World Press Photo Awards

Caretta Caretta Trapped, by Francis Perez, World Press Photo awards, nature category, first prize, singles

A sea turtle entangled in a fishing net swims off the coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Sea turtles are considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN. Unattended fishing gear is responsible for many sea turtle deaths.
Photograph: Francis Perez/Reuters

Monarchs in the Snow, by Jaime Rojo, World Press Photo awards, nature category, third prize, singles

A carpet of monarch butterflies covers the forest floor of El Rosario butterfly sanctuary in Michoacan, Mexico after a strong snow storm. The storm hit the mountains of central Mexico, creating havoc in the wintering colonies of monarch butterflies just as they were starting their migration back north to the US and Canada. Climate change is creating an increase in these unusual weather events, representing a huge challenge for these usually resilient insects during their hibernation.
Photograph: Jaime Rojo/Reuters

Dancing Octopus, by Gabriel Barathieu, Underwater photographer of the year, winner

‘Balletic and malevolent,’ said one judge of this octopus, hunting in a lagoon. Barathieu got his shot at the French island of Mayotte, off the coast of south-east Africa. He waited until spring tides when there was just 30cm of water on the flats and plenty of light in the shallows.
Photograph: Gabriel Barathieu/Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017

Out of the Blue, by Nick Blake, Underwater photographer of the year, British winner

Kukulkan, one of the spectacular cenotes on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula, is noted for its otherworldy light as sunbeams penetrate the darkness of the cave. Blake captured this diver in the centre of one of the beams.
Photograph: Nick Blake/Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017

Windblown Egret, by Jennie Stock, Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the year, winner, animal portrait

A little egret in breeding plumage was feeding in a shallow section of Herdsman lake on a windy day when he turned and the breeze ruffled his feathers.
Photograph: Jennie Stock/2017 AG Nature Photographer of the Year

African Wildlife at Night, by Will Burrard-Lucas, Sony world photography awards, professional competition, natural world, first place

“My aim was to capture never-before-seen images of African wildlife at night and to show nocturnal animals such as lions and hyenas in their true element. All of these images were taken in Liuwa Plain national park, a remote area in the west of Zambia,” says Burrard-Lucas.
Photograph: Will Burrard-Lucas/2017 Sony Awards

Condor in flight, by Ben Hall, Bird Photographer of the Year Awards, Birds in the Environment Gold award

Photograph: Ben Hall/2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards

Camouflage, by Daniel Stenberg, honourable mention, birds in the environment category, Bird Photographer of the Year Awards

Photograph: Daniel Stenberg/Bird Photographer of the Year 2017

Confiscated, by Britta Jaschinski, Grand Prize Winner Big Picture wildlife images competition

These elephant feet footstools are among some 1.3m confiscated wildlife products housed in a repository near Denver, Colorado. Despite trade bans on products made from endangered species, goods continue to find their way into illegal markets. Until recently, it was unknown whether these items were coming from recent kills. To find out, researchers radiocarbon dated 231 seized ivory samples. All but one were from recent kills. Britta Jaschinski is also GDT European photographer of the year 2017.
Photograph: Britta Jaschinski/Big Picture Photography Competition 2017

Roundup at Revillagigedo, by Ralph Pace, Big Picture wildlife images competition, aquatic life, finalist

The remote Revillagigedo Islands off the west coast of Mexico are actually the four highest peaks of a mostly submerged volcanic mountain range. The cool waters from the North Pacific mix with the warm Northern Equatorial current. In this photograph, more than a thousand predators, including dusky sharks ( Carcharhinus obscurus), yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares), and Galápagos sharks ( Carcharhinus galapagensis) work in unison to round up a shared meal of chub and other baitfish.
Photograph: Ralph Pace/Big Picture Photography Competition

Birdies, by Dominik Janoschka, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2017, Germany winner

Photograph: Dominik Janoschka

Abendidylle, by Klaus Tamm, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2017 Jury Prize and Birds category winner

Photograph: Klaus Tamm/GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2017

Slap in the face, by Troy Mayne, 2017 Comedy Wildlife Photography awards Under The Sea category

A sea turtle bitch slapping a passing fish in Bacong, Philippines.
Photograph: Troy Mayne/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards