A. Audun Rikardsen Icy Window:
Above is a photo of a polar bear taken by an underwater camera through a seal's breathing hole in the Arctic Ocean. The photo was taken by the Norwegian wildlife photographer, Audun Rikardsen.
Organised by Britain's Natural History Museum, the shortlist for the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year has just been drawn up by an expert panel of judges - 12 shortlisted photographs are posted here. The shortlisted photographs will be put to a public vote to determine the winner later this year, and the winner of this prestigious international photograph competition will be announced later this year.
B. Sora Miyazawa's Urban Wanderer:
Above is a photo of an Eastern Japanese toad on a Tokyo street. It was taken by Sora Miyazawa aged 11-14.
Below is a photo of a red-billed oxpecker on a white rhino's head in the Manyeleti Game Reserve in South Africa. In Swahili the oxpecker is known as askari wa kifaru, meaning rhino's guard, as the bird often warns the rhino of approaching danger.
C. Ernest Porter's Mutual Friends:
Jack Crawford, aged 15-17, took this photo below of a swift against a backdrop of a plane taking off in London.
D. Jack Crockford's The Art of Flying:
Below is a photo of a young leopard chasing a squirrel up a tree in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Allegra Hutton, an American photographer, reported that the squirrel escaped the leopard's attention.
E. Allegra Hutton's Up a Tree without a Squirrel:
Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen was operating a drone over a Norwegian fjord when he spotted an orca carrying a dead calf. The Norwegian photographer took the photo below of this quite common practice amongst orcas and other whales.
F. Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen's Lifted to the Surface:
Below is a photo of thousands of red-billed queleas sweeping down to drink at a lake in Kenya's Tsavo East National Park. Up to two million of these birds sometimes flock together; it's estimated that red-billed queleas are the most common wild bird on the planet.
G. Bence Máté's Flock of Gold:
An American photographer captured the moment when a black bear took a dip in a swimming pool in Los Angeles County - see photo below.
H. Loren Elliott's Pooltime Pastime:
What are your favourite wildlife photographs posted above, below and also as comments?
Below is a photo of an African bullfrog failing to catch a babul butterfly in Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
I. Jens Cullmann's Split-Second Escape:
My favourite wildlife photographs are B, C, D, E, H, I and J, with photograph A being my most favourite.
There are two more wildlife photographs posted as comments.
Below is a photo of a mosquito resting on the head of a fer-de-lance viper in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica. The French twins took this photo of this very venomous snake, responsible for the most fatal snake bites in Central America.
J. Andrea and Maceo Grammatico's Biting Back:
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22 comments
My favorite is G "Flock of Gold" On the surface, it's birds and color but then you notice the large animals in the background. Second favorite is the squirrel.
There's a lot going on in photograph #G.
These are all great my friend, especially the bear sitting in the pool lol. That is happening a lot here in the states. And I really like the dolphins that is my favorite.
Thank you for sharing with us, and I hope your enjoying a relaxing Sunday. ?
The black pear taking a dip in the pool was taken in Los Angeles County. I didn't realise bears lived in California where you live.
@mufdiver69er2 I'm sure you're right. I only know one American state flag, Texas.
The photo of the orcas is touching.
It seems orcas grieve.
@spunkycumfun Yes, they have feelings.
WOW all are truly those "I was so damn lucky to capture this" kind of moments.
But that first one is kind of scary. Seems the me the bear could easily dive in and feast on the photographer!!
I feel sorry for any seal coming up for air only to be greeted by a polar bear.
Below is a photo of a black vulture perching on a dead yacaré caiman in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands. The vulture was relieved of his meal when a waiting jaguar claimed the carcass.
K. Andy Parkinson's Wings of Darkness:
Below is a photo of a lichen dragon katydid amongst lichen. This very well camouflaged bush cricket is only found in the Ecuadorean Andes.
L. Gil Wizen's Hidden Dragon:
I thought I recognized Tokyo Tower in the background. I've seen rats and badgers in central Tokyo, but never saw frogs.
Tokyo Tower looks great lit up at night.
I love the polar bear!! Though they all show something amazing
Hugs!!
The polar bear photograph is fantastic.
Some great photography! Especially the polar bear view. Mine is just a bunny sitting by a cherry.
That's a very cute photograph.
I will go for the bear in the pool - reverse Goldilocks!
That bear looks really at home in the pool.
The polar bear wins in a landslide.
I think so too.