The Otherworldly and Ravenous Top 2025’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition

From a record-breaking 60,636 submissions, the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (previously) has selected 100 images that capture the breadth of life on Earth. The 61st annual contest, helmed by Natural History Museum, London, features a diverse array of habitats, from a brown hyena skulking through an abandoned Namibian diamond mine to an orb weaver spider illuminated by the kaleidoscopic glow of headlights. Together, the photos present a timely consideration of our impact on the environment, along with an astounding glimpse at the planet’s many gems.

As usual, you can find a fraction of the winning images below, but all are available for viewing on the museum’s website or in person through July 12, 2026. Photographers can also submit their works for the 2026 competition through December 4.

a photo by Wim van den Heever of a brown hyena among the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town. — Wim van den Heever, “Ghost Town Visitor”

a photo by Simone Baumeister of an orb weaver spider on its web on a pedestrian bridge, silhouetted by lights from the cars below — Simone Baumeister, “Caught in the Headlights”

a photo by Quentin Martinez of yellow frogs on deep green leaves — Quentin Martinez, “Frolicking Frogs”

a photo by Georgina Steytler of the strange headgear of a gum-leaf skeletoniser caterpillar — Georgina Steytler, “Mad Hatterpillar”

a photo by Chien Lee of fluorescent insect-attracting pitcher plants — Chien Lee, “Deadly Allure”

a photo by Luca Lorenz of a coypu in front of hazy swans in the background — Luca Lorenz, “Meet the Neighbours”

a photo by Alexey Kharitonov of a Russian swamp showing waterways edged with bright green grass that gave way to golden shrubs and a landscape sprinkled with the crimson blaze of alpine bearberry and bog blueberry — Alexey Kharitonov, “Autumn Icon”

a photo by Andrea Dominizi of a a longhorn beetle with construction equipment in the background — Andrea Dominizi, “After the Destruction”

a photo by Javier Aznar González de Rueda of a black-tailed rattlesnake with its tail is raised and rattling in response to the perceived threat — Javier Aznar González de Rueda, “Rattled”

a black and white photo by Luca Lorenz of a bird with four deer lined up in the background — Luca Lorenz, “Dawn Watch”

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