Pangolins in Crisis: Brent Stirton, South Africa; 1st place, Natural world and wildlife. “Pangolins are the world’s most illegally trafficked mammals, with an estimated one million trafficked to Asia in the last 10 years. Their scales are used in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine, and their meat is sold as a high-priced delicacy. As a result, pangolins are listed as critically endangered and anyone who trades or consumes them is breaking the law. This body of work exposes the trade, while exploring aspects of illegality and celebrating the people who are trying to save these animals”. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Sony World Photography Awards 2020)

Indians in traditional attire pose for the media as they practice the Garba, a traditional dance of Gujarat state, ahead of Navratri festival in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, October 9, 2023. The Hindu festival of Navratri, or nine nights, will begin on October 15. (Photo by Ajit Solanki/AP Photo)

The fairy chimneys are seen with light illuminations created with different techniques in Cappadocia, Nevsehir, Turkiye on August 01, 2024. Fairy chimneys are formed by volcanic eruptions and erosions over millions of years and are considered as one of the unique characteristics of the geography. (Photo by Harun Ozalp/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Harry Potter fan Emil Valkov, 7, from Bulgaria, who travelled to Britain with his family to attend the event for his older sister's birthday, poses for a photo at “Platform 9 3/4” during Back to Hogwarts Day at Kings Cross Station in London, Britain on September 1, 2023. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Reuters)

A wax figure of U.S. actress Scarlett Johansson stands outside Madame Tussauds New York attraction shortly after the figure was unveiled in Times Square in New York, July 30, 2015. (Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters)

Protestor Bill Maloney (L) shouts during a live TV broadcast by BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith after earlier forcing Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to abandon a photocall near Parliament on March 19, 2014 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne has delivered his Budget statement to Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

“Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. It was built between 1897 and 1901. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Highlands of Scotland, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel”. – Wikipedia

Photo: A view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct on March 30, 2012 in Glenfinnan, Scotland. Built by Sir Robert McAlpine, the single track viaduct that is made up of 21 arches is considered to have been one of the largest engineering projects of its time. Today, it is still used by ScotRail and was recently used for scenes in three of the Harry Potter films. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Participants climb over a wall at the “Tough Mudder” endurance event series in Arnsberg September 6, 2014. Competitors who took part in the endurance event saw themselves having to overcome various military style obstacles. (Photo by Ina Fassbender/Reuters)