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On February 4th, the global public is invited to take part in one of the most anticipated moments in wildlife photography as the Wildlife Photographer of the Year launches online voting for its iconic People’s Choice Award. Organized by the Natural History Museum, the award celebrates the images that resonate most strongly with audiences around the world.

Selected from more than 60,000 submissions, this curated shortlist features photographs that narrowly missed the final Top 100 exhibition but stood out for their creativity, originality, and technical excellence. Today, we are aiming to showcase 23 of those pictures that caught our eye the most here at Bored Panda.

More info: Instagram | nhm.ac.uk | x.com | Facebook

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#1

Two bear cubs playfully standing on a road at dusk with a car’s headlights illuminating them in wildlife photography.

Photo by Will Nicholls.

WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

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Among the nominees are emotionally charged moments that feel almost cinematic: bear cubs standing face to face on a quiet road as headlights approach, a surreal scene of flamingos gathered beneath endless power lines at dusk, and an intimate underwater ballet of dolphins moving as one. Other images reveal nature’s hidden worlds, from a detailed macro portrait of a spider that feels larger than life to a tiny crab hitching a ride atop a glowing jellyfish in the dark ocean.
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    #2

    Flamingos gathering in water and flying near power lines at sunset, vivid wildlife photographer’s choice image.

    Photo by Alexandre Brisson.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    12points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow! You couldn't frame this photo better if you had worked on it for 10 years!

    0
    0points
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    #3

    Two possums on a tree branch at night, captured in a top wildlife photographer of the year’s people’s choice award image.

    Photo by Charles Davis.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    11points
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    thesquidness avatar
    cugel.
    cugel.
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A rare acknowledgement that the Southern Hemisphere exists.

    0
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    There are also powerful reminders of conservation realities, including portraits of armed rangers standing before mountains of confiscated snares, and tender aerial views of polar bear families navigating a rapidly changing Arctic landscape. Each photograph tells a story that goes far beyond a single frame.

    The People’s Choice Award gives the public the final say, turning viewers into jurors and allowing them to decide which image best represents the spirit of this year’s competition. It is a rare opportunity to engage directly with visual storytelling that blends art, science, and urgent environmental awareness on a global stage.
    #4

    Lynx reaching out to a small bird in a natural setting, captured in a stunning wildlife photographer of the year image.

    Photo by Josef Stefan.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    10points
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    #5

    Four kestrel birds perched on a brick building roof, captured in a top wildlife photographer of the year image.

    Photo by Peter Lindel.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    10points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kestrels are lovely birds.

    0
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    #6

    Close-up wildlife photograph of a crane and chick interacting, featured in Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.

    Photo by Peter Lindel.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    10points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a precious little baby.

    0
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    #7

    Tiger walking through dense forest at night, captured in one of the best wildlife photographer of the year images.

    Photo by Prasenjeet Yadav.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    10points
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    #8

    Close-up of a detailed spider on a branch featured in Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award.

    Photo by Artur Tomaszek.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    9points
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    #9

    Otter holding prey in water, captured in one of the best wildlife photographer of the year people’s choice award images

    Photo by Daniela Anger.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    9points
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    #10

    Hummingbird with elongated tail feathers feeding on purple flowers in a vibrant wildlife photographer of the year image.

    Photo by Dustin Chen.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    9points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a stunner!

    0
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    #11

    Colorful bird with iridescent feathers holding an insect in its beak, captured in Wildlife Photographer of the Year images.

    Photo by Lior Berman.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    9points
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    #12

    Close-up of a polar bear resting on snow, featured in Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award images.

    Photo by Nima Sarikhani.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    9points
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    #13

    A large school of dolphins swimming underwater in a stunning wildlife photographer of the year image.

    Photo by Cecile Gabillon.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    8points
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    #14

    Bioluminescent jellyfish with a small crab on top captured in a stunning wildlife photographer award-winning image.

    Photo by Chris Gug.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    8points
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    #15

    Family of polar bears resting on rocky and mossy terrain in a stunning wildlife photographer of the year image.

    Photo by Christopher Paetkau.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    arkangl60 avatar
    Gabby M
    Gabby M
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sighs, I'm so hoping she is just asleep.

    3
    3points
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    #16

    Close-up of a wet sloth with matted fur, showcasing intricate textures in a wildlife photographer’s award-winning image.

    Photo by Dvir Barkay.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    #17

    Close-up of a vibrant green insect on red moss captured in a top wildlife photographer of the year’s people’s choice award image

    Photo by Joseph Ferraro.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The colours in this photo are lovely.

    0
    0points
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    #18

    Close-up of a deer with antlers holding animal remains, featured in wildlife photographer of the year people’s choice award images.

    Photo by Kohei Nagira.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my God, that is grim.

    1
    1point
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    #19

    Close-up of a rare pangolin resting on dark fabric, one of the best images from wildlife photographer of the year contest.

    Photo by Lance van de Vyver.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    arkangl60 avatar
    Gabby M
    Gabby M
    Community Member
    21 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awww baby Pangolin. Adorable!

    2
    2points
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    #20

    Asiatic black bear resting inside a rusty metal enclosure, featured in wildlife photographer of the year’s best images.

    Photo by Mogens Trolle.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    7points
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    #21

    Wildlife image of a lion-tailed macaque with baby walking on a forest path capturing natural behavior.

    Photo by Lalith Ekanayake.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    6points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am always amazed that they are born with the strength to hang on.

    0
    0points
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    #22

    Close-up of a spider carrying a cluster of eggs, showcasing intricate details in a wildlife photographer of the year winning image.

    Photo by Thomas Hunt.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    5points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "A cellar spider, sometimes known as a daddy long-legs, carries a ball of precious eggs in its mouth. Thomas found this female cellar spider in the top corner of his sister’s room in their home in Southampton, England, UK. Upon closer inspection, he noticed it was carrying a ball of precious eggs in its mouth. He encouraged it onto a piece of wood to move it into the garage so it could safely raise its young. The mother spider watches over her eggs for three to four weeks until they all hatch into tiny transparent spiderlings. She then guards them in her web for a short while until they leave."

    0
    0points
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    #23

    Aerial view of large solar panel farm arranged in geometric patterns in a natural landscape, wildlife photographer award.

    Photo by Francesco Russo.

    WildlifePhotographerOfTheYear Report

    4points
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    multanocte avatar
    Multa Nocte
    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    Premium     8 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had no idea what this was, so I had to look it up: "Rows of solar panels stretch across the landscape like ripples on a water’s surface. This solar farm is in the land surrounding the hamlet of Cambridge in Gloucestershire, England, UK. The panels had to be carefully organised around the divisions between pastures. The result is a pattern that resembles the shapes of bodies of water. This image is part of a project to document the relationship between nature and industry along the River Severn, which flows near this solar farm. It shows clearly the effects of human activities on the environment."

    1
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