London’s Natural History Museum, is the organization behind the competition. They released a 25-strong shortlist, which ranges from the adorable and the amusing to the dark and disturbing . Some of the pictures showed the beauty we sometimes miss in nature, but some of them also emphasized the issues surrounding cruel human treatment of animals, hunting, and need for conservation.
The following images have been shortlisted from 49,000 entries.
People can vote for their favourite via the National History Museum’s website, with winners set to be announced on Feb. 9, 2021.

#1

#2

 
IMAGE: SERGIO MARIJUÁN CAMPUZANO

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IMAGE: PALLAVI PRASAD LAVETI

#6

 
IMAGE: ANDREW LEE

#7

 
IMAGE: FRÉDÉRIC LARREY

#8

 
IMAGE: NEIL ANDERSON

#10

 
IMAGE: OLIVER RICHTER

#11

 
IMAGE: ANDY PARKINSON

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IMAGE: THOMAS P. PESCHAK

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IMAGE: MOGENS TROLLE

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IMAGE: WIM VAN DEN HEEVER

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IMAGE: GUILLERMO ESTEVES

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IMAGE: SERGIO MARIJUÁN CAMPUZANO

#20

 
IMAGE: DOUGLAS GIMESY

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#22

 
IMAGE: LAURENT BALLESTA

#23

 
IMAGE: AMI VITALE

#24

 
IMAGE: BRITTA JASCHINSKI

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