Wildlife's Wildest Moments: 2025's Best Shots

National Geographic's highly anticipated "Pictures of the Year" for 2025 showcases a curated selection of 25 unforgettable images. These photographs offer a window into the planet's most striking wildlife and delicate ecosystems, emphasizing both their inherent beauty and vulnerability. The collection serves as a powerful visual testament to the wonders of the natural world and the critical need for its preservation.

From the icy expanses of Svalbard, Norway, where a polar bear scavenges a sperm whale carcass, to the dwindling jaguar populations in Brazil's Rio Doce State Park, the images depict diverse and often challenging environments. Other featured scenes include a great white shark near Maine, a sunflower bee in California, vast antelope migrations in South Sudan, and a meticulously layered watering hole in Botswana.

Photographers utilized unique techniques, from drone perspectives to multi-day composite images, to capture these moments. The collection not only celebrates nature's resilience, as seen with Steller sea lion conservation in Canada, but also conveys a collective sense of urgency. It highlights the poetic beauty of life carrying on and the hope for a more sustainable future.