They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these striking images of 2017 are no exception. The photo highlights include incredible snapshots of the natural world as well as some awesome animal and human encounters. The vibrant gallery also shows thrill-seekers pushing themselves to the limit with breathtaking stunts captured in perfect clarity. The pictures have been taken by a host of photographers from around the world. Here: The two lion cubs singing their hearts out at Antelope park in Zimbabwe. (Photo by David Jenkins/Caters News Agency)

A woman dressed as the Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy walks her dog dressed as the Cowardly Lion as they attend the annual Congressional Dog Costume Parade on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 27, 2021. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP Photo)

Suadar Oyunbold, age 5 runs from a Lion Dancer in Dublin City Farm at St Anne’s Park on January 9, 2023 to mark the launch of the programme for Dublin Lunar New Year which runs from 21-29 January. (Photo by Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times)

A member of Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association, demonstrates a dance with an ox mask designed for Lunar New Year at a training centre, during an interview with Reuters, in Muar, Malaysia on February 5, 2021. (Photo by Lim Huey Teng/Reuters)

A confiscated pet lion poses with a dog as it arrived back home from the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered authorities to return the animal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 5, 2021. (Photo by Cindy Liu/Reuters)

A ten days old South American sea lion pup sits next to its mother Lunita at the “Tiergarten Schoenbrunn” Zoo in Vienna, Austria, July 28, 2015. The pup was born in the zoo and weighs about 14 kilograms (30 pounds). (Photo by Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

Female sea lion “Sarasa” holds a hose with her mouse to help a trainer clean her room at the Shinagawa Aqua Stadium aquarium in Tokyo on December 30, 2014. The aquarium is carrying out year-end general cleaning of their facilities. (Photo by Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP Photo)

A dragon mask for the upcoming Lunar New Year hangs on the wall at Lily Hambali's and lion masks and custome maker in Bogor, Indonesia, 02 February 2015. The Chinese Lunar New Year, known here as Imlek, is only three weeks away. The whole city is getting decked out to celebrate the event on 19 February 2015. (Photo by Adi Weda/EPA)