Stags Cool Off in Richmond Park
Stags were photographed cooling off in a stream in Richmond Park, southwest London, as the Met Office issued a rare red extreme heat weather warning. The image, captured by Alex Lentati, shows the deer seeking respite from the heat.
Adélie Penguin Leaps from Water
Mat Bell’s eye-catching photograph, shortlisted for the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2026, captures an Adélie penguin propelling itself from icy waters off the Antarctic peninsula onto an iceberg. Bell said: “Huddled in a Zodiac boat in icy waters, I waited patiently for the penguin to leap. Persistence delivered as I captured this penguin in an almost levitational-like state, as if posing for the camera.”
Rare Sand Cat Documented in Libya
Wildlife photographer Mohammed Almuntasir posted a YouTube video in 2017 of a sand cat in the Libyan Sahara, surprising naturalists who were unaware of its presence. After eight years of research in a remote valley, the sand cat has now been documented in 13 sites. Smaller than a house cat, the sand cat is difficult to spot but can be tracked through its pawprints.
Infant Howler Monkey Rescued in Costa Rica
A tiny infant howler monkey named Elsa was found clinging to her mother, who had suffered an electrocution in Costa Rica. Elsa is now in the care of International Animal Rescue, where she remains under close supervision.
Dragonflies Dip to Cool Off
Dragonflies in Dunsden, UK, were observed dipping the lower portions of their bodies into water to keep cool in hot weather, a behavior similar to that of humans.
Dartmoor Pony Dispute
A pony and foal were photographed at Hound Tor in Dartmoor National Park, UK. Natural England is in dispute with farmers and campaigners over new environmental grazing contracts that critics claim could force a massive reduction in Dartmoor’s semi-wild pony population. Campaigners warn that the rules could result in up to 90% of the ponies being removed or culled, but Natural England strongly denies ordering a cull, stating that pony grazing is vital for the moor’s ecological recovery.
Marsh Rabbit Nibbles on Beach Dunes
A marsh rabbit was photographed pausing along the beach dunes to nibble on leaves of a cat greenbriar on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, US. The marsh rabbit is a close relative of the eastern cottontail but has smaller ears and lacks the white tail.
Hippos and Giraffes in Tanzania
A hippopotamus wallows in the waters of the Mkata floodplain in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. The floodplain is also home to giraffes, elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, eland, zebra, lions, and about 400 species of birds.
Bee Gathers Nectar in France
A bee was photographed gathering nectar from lavender flowers in Valensole, southern France.
Orangutan Surrogacy Programme
Randy, a two-year-old orangutan rescued from illegal captivity, is with his foster mother Siponti at the Yiari rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. As part of a surrogacy programme, Siponti is teaching Randy the survival skills he needs to thrive in the wild.
Clownfish and Kestrels
A timid clownfish shelters among the tentacles of a sea anemone near Sipadan Island, Malaysia. Meanwhile, a staff member feeds kestrels at the Creaves de Namur rehabilitation centre in Belgium as a heatwave hits Europe.
Red Fox Cubs and Bird Flu
Red fox cubs were photographed emerging from their den in a meadow in Kars, Turkey. In Australia, a northern giant petrel was cared for at the Esperance Wildlife Hospital after testing positive for H5N1 bird flu. The bird later died from the disease, along with a brown skua, raising concerns among wildlife experts as Australia remains the only continent untouched by bird flu.
Water Buffalo in Turkey
Water buffalo graze and cool off in the waters of the Eber Lake basin in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Recent rainfall has helped replenish water in the drought-threatened basin, attracting herds of water buffalo.
Ladybird, Red Squirrel, and Beetles
A ladybird crawls on grain in a field in Frankfurt, Germany. A red squirrel looks for pinecones in a garden in Kars, Turkey. Beetles get to work on a leaf in Sangju, South Korea.
Mallard Duckling in Germany
A mallard duckling takes a walk in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
