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    HomeGalleries- StoriesFeature Stories

    Animal Athletes54

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    The Olympic games are an inspiring spectacle of talent, with the best athletes in the world setting benchmarks for human potential and physical endurance.

    Whilst we may marvel at their prowess, they should feel lucky they don't have to compete with the champions of the animal kingdom, who perform physical feats of Olympic proportions every day in order to ensure their survival in the greatest game of all: the competition of life.

    Who are the champions of the animal kingdom? Find out by downloading our full story PDF, including text, here.

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    Andy Rouse / Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) running, Kenya (non-ex)
    01244133
    Andy Rouse / Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) running, Kenya (non-ex)
    Michael Durham / Male Pronghorn antelope running {Antilocapra americana} Hart mtn NWR, Oregon, USA. The proghorn has a maximum speed of 55mph but can also cruise at 40mph for as long as 30 minutes; the animal equivale...
    01119428
    Michael Durham / Male Pronghorn antelope running {Antilocapra americana} Hart mtn NWR, Oregon, USA. The proghorn has a maximum speed of 55mph but can also cruise at 40mph for as long as 30 minutes; the animal equivale...
    Anup Shah / Male African lion {Panthera leo} trotting across his territory to see of an intruder, Masai Mara GR, Kenya. Lions can run at speeds of 50mph!
    01182339
    Anup Shah / Male African lion {Panthera leo} trotting across his territory to see of an intruder, Masai Mara GR, Kenya. Lions can run at speeds of 50mph!
    Richard Du Toit / Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana
    01443020
    Richard Du Toit / Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana
    Anup Shah / Male Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) running - panned effect. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March
    01271553
    Anup Shah / Male Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella thomsoni) running - panned effect. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. March
    Andy Rouse / Male Common wildebeest (Connochaetus taurinus) running, Masai Mara, Kenya
    01262902
    Andy Rouse / Male Common wildebeest (Connochaetus taurinus) running, Masai Mara, Kenya
    Klein & Hubert / Male Ostrich (Struthio camelus massaicus) running, Kenya.,
    01503558
    Klein & Hubert / Male Ostrich (Struthio camelus massaicus) running, Kenya.,
    Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in winter coat, running up a snow-covered slope, Scotland, UK, February. Did you know? Mountain hares' feet act like snowshoes, spreading out the animal's weight over th...
    01370611
    Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Mountain hare (Lepus timidus) in winter coat, running up a snow-covered slope, Scotland, UK, February. Did you know? Mountain hares' feet act like snowshoes, spreading out the animal's weight over th...
    Brandon Cole / Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans), feeding, with sardine caught in mouth. Some consider this to be the same species as the Indo-Pacific Sailfish (I. platypterus). Mexico, Gulf of Mexico.
    01236663
    Brandon Cole / Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans), feeding, with sardine caught in mouth. Some consider this to be the same species as the Indo-Pacific Sailfish (I. platypterus). Mexico, Gulf of Mexico.
    Wild Wonders of Europe / Zankl / Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) portrait, captive, Malta, Mediteranean, May 2009 WWE BOOK
    01277678
    Wild Wonders of Europe / Zankl / Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) portrait, captive, Malta, Mediteranean, May 2009 WWE BOOK
    Chris & Monique Fallows / Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) Cape Point, South Africa
    01467030
    Chris & Monique Fallows / Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) Cape Point, South Africa
    Chris & Monique Fallows / Indo Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
    01445030
    Chris & Monique Fallows / Indo Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
    Jeff Rotman / Giant Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares), Mexico, Pacific Ocean.
    01313446
    Jeff Rotman / Giant Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares), Mexico, Pacific Ocean.
    Andy Rouse / Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) surfing, jumping out of the sea, Falkland Islands
    01234087
    Andy Rouse / Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) surfing, jumping out of the sea, Falkland Islands
    Angelo Gandolfi / Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) hunting Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). Pyrenees, Aragon, Spain.
    01260064
    Angelo Gandolfi / Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) hunting Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus). Pyrenees, Aragon, Spain.
    Doug Perrine / Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) juvenile female aged about 6-11 years, Endangered Species, Commonwealth of Dominica, Caribbean, March
    01346007
    Doug Perrine / Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) juvenile female aged about 6-11 years, Endangered Species, Commonwealth of Dominica, Caribbean, March
    DOC WHITE / Northern elephant seal underwater breathing out at sea surface, off Mexico, Central America
    01074200
    DOC WHITE / Northern elephant seal underwater breathing out at sea surface, off Mexico, Central America
    Juergen Freund / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) underwater.
    01332175
    Juergen Freund / Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) underwater.
    Doug Allan / Emperor penguins diving {Aptenodytes forsteri} Antarctica. Emperor penguins are the bird diving champions and can acheive a depth of 500m. Humans can only descend 150m before the water pressure collap...
    01083370
    Doug Allan / Emperor penguins diving {Aptenodytes forsteri} Antarctica. Emperor penguins are the bird diving champions and can acheive a depth of 500m. Humans can only descend 150m before the water pressure collap...
    Stephen Dalton / African sharp-nosed frog {Rana mascareniensis} jumping, underside view, controlled conditions, from Africa
    01274655
    Stephen Dalton / African sharp-nosed frog {Rana mascareniensis} jumping, underside view, controlled conditions, from Africa
    Stephen Dalton / Jumping spider (Plexippus paykulli) leaping onto fly prey, Crete
    01288553
    Stephen Dalton / Jumping spider (Plexippus paykulli) leaping onto fly prey, Crete
    Stephen Dalton / Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) leaping, UK
    01259784
    Stephen Dalton / Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus) leaping, UK
    Mary McDonald / Banner-tailed kangaroo rat {Dipodomys spectabilis} outside its den, captive, Southern Arizona, USA.
    01232472
    Mary McDonald / Banner-tailed kangaroo rat {Dipodomys spectabilis} outside its den, captive, Southern Arizona, USA.
    Dave Watts / Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) bounding, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, September
    01354793
    Dave Watts / Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) bounding, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, September
    Andy Rouse / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male jumping during rut. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.
    01374871
    Andy Rouse / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male jumping during rut. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.
    Andy Rouse / Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) bounding through snow, captive, USA
    01244200
    Andy Rouse / Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) bounding through snow, captive, USA
    Stephen Dalton / Cat flea {Ctenocephalides felis} leaping sequence, multiflash image
    01276406
    Stephen Dalton / Cat flea {Ctenocephalides felis} leaping sequence, multiflash image
    Stephen Dalton / Cat flea {Ctenocephalides felis} jumping from cat fur, UK
    01276542
    Stephen Dalton / Cat flea {Ctenocephalides felis} jumping from cat fur, UK
    Stephen Dalton / Black and red froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) in mid-hop. England, UK
    01288404
    Stephen Dalton / Black and red froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) in mid-hop. England, UK
    Ben Hall / Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) in mid leap, Karoo, South Africa, February
    01415110
    Ben Hall / Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus) in mid leap, Karoo, South Africa, February
    Andy Rouse / Bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) jumping, Caribbean (non-ex). Exclusive jigsaw puzzle rights worldwide sold until 31.12.2014.
    01238709
    Andy Rouse / Bottlenosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) jumping, Caribbean (non-ex). Exclusive jigsaw puzzle rights worldwide sold until 31.12.2014.
    Dave Watts / Cougar / Mountain Lion / Puma {Felis concolor}~running in snow, captive, Montana, USA. Pumas can jump 4.6m high!
    01150322
    Dave Watts / Cougar / Mountain Lion / Puma {Felis concolor}~running in snow, captive, Montana, USA. Pumas can jump 4.6m high!
    Shattil & Rozinski / Salmon leaping up waterfall, swimming upstream to spawn, Alaska, USA, September
    01324015
    Shattil & Rozinski / Salmon leaping up waterfall, swimming upstream to spawn, Alaska, USA, September
    01278659
    Rolf Nussbaumer / Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) adult rolling dung ball. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    01350352
    Rolf Nussbaumer / Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) adult rolling dung ball. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    Nature Production / Hercules Scarab Beetles (Dynastes hercules) fighting, Venezuela
    01344308
    Nature Production / Hercules Scarab Beetles (Dynastes hercules) fighting, Venezuela
    Bence Mate / Leaf cutter ant (Atta sp) female worker carrying leaf to nest, with a smaller 'minor' ant riding. The minor's job is to protect her sister from parasitic flies. Costa Rica, December. Highly Commended,...
    01359895
    Bence Mate / Leaf cutter ant (Atta sp) female worker carrying leaf to nest, with a smaller 'minor' ant riding. The minor's job is to protect her sister from parasitic flies. Costa Rica, December. Highly Commended,...
    Tony Heald / African elephant (Loxodonta africana) with trunk raised, Etosha National Park, Namibia, June Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    01241570
    Tony Heald / African elephant (Loxodonta africana) with trunk raised, Etosha National Park, Namibia, June Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    Andy Rouse / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei) silverback beating chest and charging, Susa group, Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    01320393
    Andy Rouse / Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei) silverback beating chest and charging, Susa group, Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
    Neil Lucas / Crowned hawk eagle, Zimbabwe. Captive bird
    01018018
    Neil Lucas / Crowned hawk eagle, Zimbabwe. Captive bird
    Markus Varesvuo / Swift (Apus apus) in flight. Helsinki, Finland. July
    01179367
    Markus Varesvuo / Swift (Apus apus) in flight. Helsinki, Finland. July
    Andrew Parkinson / Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) adult hovering directly in front of the sun, defending nest from perceived threat, Farne Islands, UK.~June
    01354125
    Andrew Parkinson / Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) adult hovering directly in front of the sun, defending nest from perceived threat, Farne Islands, UK.~June
    Markus Varesvuo / Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), adult with summer plumage in flight. Norway, Scandinavia. June.
    01183080
    Markus Varesvuo / Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), adult with summer plumage in flight. Norway, Scandinavia. June.
    Juergen Freund / Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) swimming, Indo-pacific.
    01354616
    Juergen Freund / Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) swimming, Indo-pacific.
    Mark Carwardine / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) underwater, Guadalupe Island, Mexico (North Pacific)
    01178904
    Mark Carwardine / Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) underwater, Guadalupe Island, Mexico (North Pacific)
    Stephen Dalton / Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) female in flight. Did you know? Monarch buttterflies migrate up to 2500 miles from Mexico to Canada.
    01276518
    Stephen Dalton / Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) female in flight. Did you know? Monarch buttterflies migrate up to 2500 miles from Mexico to Canada.
    Solvin Zankl / Smasher Mantis Shrimp (Lysiosquilla sulcirostris) Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia
    01200578
    Solvin Zankl / Smasher Mantis Shrimp (Lysiosquilla sulcirostris) Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Nature Production / Japanese Horned / Rhinoceros Beetle {Allomyrina dichotomus} and Saw Stag Beetle {Prosopocoilus inclinatus inclinatus} fighting, captive, Japan
    01172676
    Nature Production / Japanese Horned / Rhinoceros Beetle {Allomyrina dichotomus} and Saw Stag Beetle {Prosopocoilus inclinatus inclinatus} fighting, captive, Japan
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