Jorge, an immigrant from Mexico, exits a subway station dressed as the Sesame Street character Elmo in Times Square, New York July 30, 2014. Elmo and Cookie Monster have long delighted young viewers on TV's “Sesame Street”, but the recent antics of New York street performers dressed as the beloved characters have drawn the ire of city officials and now the show's producers. Sesame Workshop, which owns the rights to Big Bird, Ernie and the assorted puppet monsters on the 45-year-old program, said on July 29, 2014 it was drafting plans to stop performers who dress up as the characters from appearing in Times Square, where they pose for photos with tourists and then demand tips. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)

Shortlisted: “Two big eyes” by Miao Yong (Zejiang province, China). Damselflies look over the leaves. “I was photographing insects in a park near my home when suddenly I found two damselflies in the grass. They kept flying and it was very difficult to focus until suddenly they parked behind a leaf”. (Photo by Miao Yong/2017 Royal Society of Biology Photographer of the Year)

A quake-resistant dome house decorated with Japan's popular “Kumamon” bear character is pictured at the Aso Farm Land resort in Aso, Japan on November 6, 2017. Cabins modelled after Japanese sweets and made from polystyrene foam withstood last year's deadly earthquakes in Kumamoto prefecture. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

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)

Tibetan pilgrims walk outside the Sera Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, 11 September 2016. Sera Monastery is known as one of the “great three” Gelug university monasteries of Tibet founded in 1419. (Photo by How Hwee Young/EPA)

A resident gestures about the loss of his home following an overnight fire at the Addition Hills area in suburban Mandaluyong city east Manila, Philippines, Monday, November 14, 2016. Fire officials say the overnight fire destroyed hundreds of homes, rendered more than 5,000 people homeless and resulted in the death of two residents. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)

The new Toyota Concept-i concept car, designed to learn about its driver is unveiled during the Toyota press conference at CES in Las Vegas, January 4, 2017. (Photo by Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Cows rush through mud and water while jockey holds onto their tails, on March 12, 2016 in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. For hundreds of years these farmers have competed in one of the worldís most oddest races in the hopes of showing off their cattle. Known as Pacu Jawi the traditional cow race takes place in Padang, West Sumatra, and has become the highlight of the year for locals. (Photo by Teh Han Lin/Barcroft Images)