The end of the year has seen an influx of varied and powerful new images. Lots of African wildlife, birds from all corners of the world, fascinating insect behaviour, Australian endemic species, a range of great marine life including sharks, and more coverage from the Photo Ark project, are just some of the many highlights.
Ann & Steve Toon / Female leopard (Panthera pardus) drinking at night, Zimanga private game reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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Klein & Hubert / Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) bull, trotting through long grass at sunrise, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa. Critically endangered.
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Klein & Hubert / Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) running at full speed while hunting in savannah, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa.
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Klein & Hubert / Two Lion (Panthera leo leo) cubs, aged two months, playfighting, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa.
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Wim van den Heever / African elephant (Loxodonta africana) with Mount Kilimajaro in the background, Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
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Andy Rouse / African lioness (Panthera leo) walking towards camera at sunset, Amboseli National Park, Kenya
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Klein & Hubert / Two Lion (Panthera leo leo) cubs, aged two months, playfighting, with one trying to bite the tail of its playmate, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa.
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Nick Garbutt / Young male Lion (Panthera leo) resting in tree during middle of the day to escape the heat. Acacia woodland near Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area / Serengeti National Park border, Tanzania.
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Klein & Hubert / Lion (Panthera leo leo) pride lying in the shade of a tree at sunset, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa.
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Klein & Hubert / Four Maasai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) silhouetted in savanna at dawn with Yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) in flight, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa.
Ann & Steve Toon / Frog (Anura) in waterhole at night with two Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in background, Zimanga Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
