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 man driving a vintage car reacts as he passes by crabs crossing a highway on their way to spawn in the sea in Playa Giron, Cuba on April 25, 2017. Each year, after the first spring rains, millions of red, yellow and black landcrabs march for days from the surrounding forests to the bay on Cuba's southern coast to spawn in the sea. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)

Muslims pray at the top of Mount Al-Noor during their Umrah Mawlid al-Nabawi “Birthday of Prophet Mohammad” in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia January 16, 2016. Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel, at the top of Mount Al-Noor in the holy city of Mecca. (Photo by Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)

A monkey licks ice during the annual “monkey buffet” in Lopburi province, some 150 kms north of Bangkok on November 24, 2013. More than 2,000 kilos of fruits and vegetables were offered to the monkeys during the annual festival to help promote tourism in the area. (Photo by Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP Photo)

Street animators wearing fancy costumes take a break on a bench in a park in Stavropol, Russia on March 14, 2021. (Photo by Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters)

Grand Blanc junior Sarah Hartwell chants “Get her out!” as more than 100 students, retired teachers and other members of the community march on Monday, May 24, 2021 on the sidewalk along Saginaw Street outside of Grand Blanc High School, protesting Amy Facchinello, a school board member accused of believing in the QAnon conspiracy. About 25 counter-protesters showed to argue that Facchinello was duly elected and has her right to free speech. (Photo by Jake May/AP Photo)

Sri Lankan mahout Nishanth relaxes with a tame elephant Suddi, who was recently released from government custody following a court order, in Pannipitiya, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, September 12, 2021. (Photo by Eranga Jayawardena/AP Photo)

A tourist pets a cat before the “Horus protects Ramses II as a child”, dating to the reign of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom pharaoh (1303-1213 BC), at the Egyptian Museum in the centre of Egypt's capital Cairo on October 19, 2022. (Photo by Amir Makar/AFP Photo)