Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017 finalists – in pictures
A hungry arctic fox, mating sea angels and playful brown bears are among the creatures captured by photographers for this year’s competition. The exhibition opens on 20 October at the Natural History Museum
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Swim gym by Laurent Ballesta (France)
A mother introduces her pup to the icy water in east Antarctica in early spring. The pair slide effortlessly between the sheets of the frozen water. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: MammalsPhotograph: Laurent Ballesta/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Romance among the angels by Andrey Narchuk (Russia)
Sea angels are molluscs related to slugs and snails, with wing-like lobes used as swimming paddles. They are both male and female and here they prepare to insert their copulatory organs into each other to transfer sperm in synchrony. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: InvertebratesPhotograph: Andrey Narchuk/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Arctic treasure by Sergey Gorshkov (Russia)
An arctic fox carries its egg trophy from a raid on a snow goose nest and heads for a suitable burial spot.Finalist 2017, Animal PortraitsPhotograph: Sergey Gorshkov/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Winter pause by Mats Andersson (Sweden)
On a cold February morning, the red squirrel encapsulates the spirit of winter as it closes its eyes for a moment, paws together, fur fluffed, then resumes its search for food. Finalist 2017, Black and WhitePhotograph: Mats Andersson/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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The insiders by Qing Lin (China)
Each anemone fish has an extra pair of eyes inside its mouth – those of a parasitic isopod which enters as a larva via the fish’s gills, moves to its mouth and attaches its legs to the base of the tongue. Finalist 2017, Under WaterPhotograph: Qing Lin/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Saved but caged by Steve Winter (US)
The back leg of this Sumatran tiger cub was so badly mangled by a snare it had to be amputated. He was trapped for four days before being discovered in a rainforest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is likely the snare was set by oil-palm plantation workers. Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single ImagePhotograph: Steve Winter/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Bold eagle by Klaus Nigge (Germany)
After several days of constant rain, the bald eagle was soaked to the skin. Full concentration on the eagle’s expression created an intimate portrait, enhanced by the overcast light of the rainy day. Finalist 2017, Animal PortraitsPhotograph: Klaus Nigge/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Sewage surfer by Justin Hofman (US)
This tiny estuary seahorse ‘almost hopped’ from one bit of bouncing natural debris to the next, bobbing around on a reef near Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. As a brisk surface wind picked up, the seahorse took advantage of something that offered a stable raft: a waterlogged plastic cottonbud. Finalist 2017, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single ImagePhotograph: Justin Hofman/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Saguaro twist by Jack Dykinga (US)
These emblematic saguaro cacti in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert National Monument tower at more than 12 metres. The roots weave a maze just below the surface, radiating as far as the plant is tall, to absorb precious rainfall. The saturated limbs are vulnerable to hard frost – their flesh may freeze and crack, while the mighty arms twist down under their loads. Finalist 2017, Plants and FungiPhotograph: Jack Dykinga/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Bear hug by Ashleigh Scully (US)
After fishing for clams at low tide, a mother brown bear leads her spring cubs back across the beach to the nearby meadow. But one young cub wants to stay and play. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 YearsPhotograph: Ashleigh Scully/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Glimpse of a lynx by Laura Albiac Vilas (Spain)
Laura travelled to the Sierra de Andújar natural park in Spain in search of the lynx and struck lucky on her second day – a pair were relaxing not far from the road. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 YearsPhotograph: Laura Albiac Vilas/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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The power of the matriarch by David Lloyd (New Zealand/UK)
In Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve, a herd of elephants trekked to their evening waterhole. The mellow light from the fast-setting sun emphasised every wrinkle and hair. The female leading the herd looked straight at the photographer, her eye a glowing amber dot in the heavy folds of skin. Her gaze was full of respect and intelligence. Finalist 2017, Animal PortraitsPhotograph: David Lloyd/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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Resplendent delivery by Tyohar Kastiel (Israel)
Tyohar watched the pair of resplendent quetzals for more than a week as they delivered fruits to their two chicks. Resplendent quetzals usually nest in thicker forest, but this pair had picked a tree in a partly logged area in the Costa Rican cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota. The additional light made it easier for Tyohar to catch the iridescent colour of the male’s dazzling emerald and crimson body plumage and tail streamers. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: BirdsPhotograph: Tyohar Kastiel/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year
