Guardian of the Mangroves – Overall Winner. Tanya Houppermans, Cuba. A curious American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) swims right up to Tanya, at Gardens of the Queen (Jardines De La Reina), an archipelago off the coast of Cuba. It has been strictly protected since 1996, and is one of the most untouched marine ecosystems in the world. ‍ “The healthy population of American crocodiles is down to the pristine condition of the mangroves and I wanted to capture close ups of this gentle giant in its natural habitat. I hope this image can illustrate that protecting areas like this is so critical”. (Photo by Tanya Griffin Houppermans/Mangrove Photographer of the Year)

People make a heart shaped gesture as they look at the first sunrise of the year during New Year's celebrations at a park on January 1, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul's New Years celebrations returns this year after it was cancelled during the Covid Pandemic. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

A South Korea fan smiles ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H football match between Uruguay and South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 24, 2022. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP Photo)

Bradie, a corgi, competes in the dock dive competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. (Photo by Mary Altaffer/AP Photo)

Students perform a traditional dance during the Onam festival celebrations in Chennai on August 25, 2023. (Photo by R. Satish Babu/AFP Photo)

Professional wrestlers Helen Charlotte Campbell and Dark Sheik (R) compete during an evening of wrestling entertainment, presented by promoter “TNT Extreme Wrestling'” in Liverpool, northern England, on September 17, 2023. The event pitted UK-based wrestlers representing 'TNT Extreme Wrestling' against US wrestlers from “Game Changer Wrestling” and featured Helen Charlotte Campbell versus Dark Sheik, which is understood to be the first singles wrestling match between binary trans women in the UK. (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP Photo)

Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinian members of al-Agha family, who were killed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters)

A street merchant waits for customers in Niamey, Niger, Monday, August 14, 2023. Niger's mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security. (Photo by Sam Mednick/AP Photo)