Picturing wildlife, moments that can’t be described perfectly in words and different feelings between animals. These photos will make you see the world as it is – beautiful and you will truly discover the nature and all the souls that are in it.

From lovebirds that are secretly enjoying a bath to waiting at a waterhole during the dry season, knowing that anything can appear out of the darkness, all these photos are a selection taken especially for you and your tastes.

Check them out for more information and start to see our world through photos!

Pool party by Luke Massey, UK

‘As the drought in Zambia’s South Luangwa national park stretched on, the waterholes dwindled to pools. Flocks of Lilian’s lovebirds congregated together and when the coast was clear they descended to this pool. They shuffled forward, taking it in turns to drink and bathe, as if on a conveyor belt.’
Photograph: Luke Massey/Natural History Museum

Sloth hanging out by Luciano Candisani, Brazil ‘

Luciano had to climb the cecropia tree, in the protected Atlantic rainforest of southern Bahia, Brazil, to take an eye-level shot of this three-toed sloth. Sloths like to feed on the leaves of these trees, and so they are often seen high up in the canopy.’
Photograph: Luciano Candisani,/Natural History Museum

Roller rider by Lakshitha Karunarathna, Sri Lanka ‘

Lakshitha was on safari in Maasai Mara national reserve, Kenya, when he spotted an unusual sight – a lilac-breasted roller riding a zebra. Normally they prefer to perch high up in the foliage, but this roller spent an hour or more riding around and enjoying the occasional insect meal. Lakshitha waited for the surrounding zebras to form the perfect background before taking this tight crop.’
Photograph: Lakshitha Karunarathna/Natural History Museum

Leopard gaze by Martin van Lokven, The Netherlands

‘During a three-week stay in Serengeti national park, Tanzania, Martin encountered this female leopard several times. Called Fundi by local guides, she was well known in the area. Late one afternoon, Fundi left the tree she was resting in and stopped by Martin’s car, fixing him with her magnificent gaze.’
Photograph: Martin van Lokven/Natural History Museum

The brothers by Marco Urso, Italy ‘

Millions of salmon spawn each year at Kuril Lake in the southern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, attracting large numbers of brown bears. Marco noticed how curious these two brown bears were and was able to capture the moment when they both stood up on their hind legs to watch what he was doing. The rain falling onto the lake added an extra atmosphere to the scene.’
Photograph: Marco Urso/Natural History Museum

Holding on by Jami Tarris, US

‘This close-up captures the touching moment an infant lays its small hand in the big hand of its mother. Jami took this photograph while she was in Borneo working on a story about the effects of palm-oil agriculture on orangutan habitat. Loss of primary rainforest is a serious threat to this already critically endangered species.’
Photograph: Jami Tarris/Natural History Museum

Hammerhead by Adriana Basques, Brazil /US ‘ 

Adriana had the advantage of a sunny day and good visibility with ample natural lighting. When a school of cottonmouth jacks came into view she waited to see if a hammerhead might appear. It didn’t take long. This particular shark stayed just long enough for her to capture a full frame with the school of cottonmouths in the background, giving her the unique composition she had been searching for.’
Photograph: Adriana Basques/Natural History Museum

Kick back and chill by Alan Chung, US

‘After more than two hours hiking with rangers in Volcanoes national park, Rwanda, Alan came across the “Hirwa” family group (meaning “the lucky one”). This group of 16 mountain gorillas is led by a single strong silverback. They were feeding on young bamboo shoots and relaxing in a leafy open spot.’
Photograph: Alan Chung/Natural History Museum

Grooming the descendant by Claudio Contreras Koob, Mexico

‘This fluffy Caribbean flamingo chick is less than five days old and is being preened by one of its parents in the Ría Lagartos biosphere reserve, Yucatán, Mexico. Chicks remain in the nest for less than a week; they then wander around the colony in crèches and start to feed for themselves, although their parents still continue to feed them for several months. The flamingo colony is highly sensitive to human presence, so Claudio could only approach the colony on all fours while hiding underneath a camo throw-over.’
Photograph: Claudio Contreras Koob/Natural History Museum

Warning wings by Mike Harterink, The Netherlands ‘

Diving off Blue Bead Hole, St Eustatius, Caribbean, Mike used a slow shutter speed to capture the motion of this “flying” gurnard. The fish’s large pectoral fins are divided into a shorter forward fin with spines, which it uses to “walk” around and to poke the ocean floor for food, and a larger wing-like part. The fins are usually held against its body but, when threatened, the fish expands them to scare away predators.’
Photograph: Mike Harterink/Natural History Museum

Neck and neck by David Lloyd, New Zealand / UK ‘

Sometimes photographing large animals in isolation from their background can be difficult, especially if the background is too detailed. Luckily, David managed to capture the giraffes of Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve against a white, overcast sky, but he still opted to shoot a little closer and, adjusting the exposure, caught the intimate moment of a giraffe grooming its companion.’
Photograph: David Lloyd/Natural History Museum

Shaking off by Connor Stefanison, Canada ‘

Approximately every five years an eruption of snowy owls makes its way down from the Arctic, where they breed, to the Pacific north-west of North America, and congregates in areas like Delta, British Columbia. Connor captured this owl head-on as it was shaking off its feathers on a rainy winter day.’
Photograph: Connor Stefanison/Natural History Museum

Land of snow and ice by Josh Anon, US ‘

The Arctic is beautiful all year-round, but in the late winter, when temperatures reach -30C (-22F) and everything is white and the sun stays low on the horizon, it’s stunning. Josh was on a boat in a fjord across from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, and encountered this polar bear walking along the edge of the ice. She was curious, walking past the boat twice – just long enough for Josh to take a shot with her white coat glowing in the setting sun. After satisfying her curiosity, she silently walked off into the distance.’
Photograph: Josh Anon/Natural History Museum

Elegant mother and calf by Ray Chin, Taiwan ‘

Every year from July to late October southern humpback whales migrate north from their Antarctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm sheltered waters off Tonga. Ray encountered this humpback mother and calf peacefully floating in the plankton-filled water around the island group of Vava‘u, Tonga. After Ray gently approached them, the giants swam a bit closer to have a look at him. While they made this elegant turn, Ray took the shot. He later converted the image into black and white which he felt represented the simplicity of the scene.’
Photograph: Ray Chin/Natural History Museum

Settled in by Ryan Miller, US

‘Moose are not strangers to the city of Anchorage, Alaska. This big bull is known as Hook, and Ryan knew from the previous year that he would be shedding his magnificent antler crown in the coming days. Ryan captured this scene in heavy snowfall as the rest of the city slept, and less than an hour later Hook shed his first antler.’
Photograph: Ryan Miller/Natural History Museum

Dark side of the plains by Uri Golman, Denmark

’Uri had dedicated a whole week to black-and-white photography on the plains of the Maasai Mara, Kenya, and had spent many days taking pictures of big cats. After a long day he suddenly came across six giraffes walking in formation. He decided to follow them for a while, and when three broke off and headed into the shadows he got this remarkable shot.’
Photograph: Uri Golman/Natural History Museum

Cleaning session by Jordi Chias Pujol, Spain ‘

The protected waters around Carall Bernat, Medes Islands, Spain, are admired for their marine diversity and are popular with divers. Jordi knows of an area where sunfish visit in the spring to be cleaned by Mediterranean rainbow wrasses and other small wrasses. The sunfish adopt an upright position, signalling to the wrasses that they are ready. Jordi was able to approach and take a shot while the wrasses went to work picking off the skin parasites, which the sunfish are commonly afflicted with.’
Photograph: Natural History Museum

Reach for the sky by Steven Blandin, US ‘

Steven was taking pictures of a small group of adult roseate spoonbills in a rookery in Tampa Bay, Florida, when he noticed a newcomer flying in from afar. With just enough time to back up a few steps, Steven photographed the bird landing exactly square to his camera with its wings in a stunning symmetrical U-shape.’
Photograph: Steven Blandin/Natural History Museum

What are you looking at? by Jan Kolbe, South Africa ‘

Jan spotted this small southern whitefaced owl in a tree at a campsite in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. These owls have black-tipped ‘ear’ tufts and usually lay their eggs in the old nests of other birds. Jan was able to frame a shot of this striking bird looking down at him as it didn’t seem bothered by the comings and goings of the campsite.’
Photograph: Jan Kolbe/Natural History Museum

The nightcap by Charl Senekal, South Africa

‘For Charl, nothing beats the excitement and anticipation of sitting in wait at a waterhole during the dry season, knowing that anything can appear out of the darkness. The herd of zebra in South Africa’s Zimanga game reserve surpassed his wildest wishes, and the still conditions resulted in a near-perfect reflection.’
Photograph: Charl Senekal/Natural History Museum