Bloodthirsty by Thomas P. Peschak, Germany/South Africa — winner, Behaviour: birds. When rations run short on Wolf Island, in the remote northern Galápagos, the sharp-beaked ground finches become vampires. Their sitting targets are Nazca boobies and other large birds. The finches rely on a scant diet of seeds and insects, which regularly dries up, so they drink blood to survive. ‘I’ve seen more than half a dozen finches drinking from a single Nazca booby,’ says Tom. Rather than leave their nests the boobies tolerate the vampires, and the blood loss doesn’t seem to cause permanent harm. (Photo by Thomas P. Peschak/2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

An Indian labourer carries a sack of plastic bottles on his head near one of the largest disposal sites in north-east India, ahead of the “World Environment Day” in Boragaon area of Guwahati on June 4, 2018. World Environment Day is marked annually on June 5, and aims at promoting awareness and action to protect the environment. (Photo by Biju Boro/AFP Photo)

Winner – Animal Portraits: The pose by Mogens Trolle, Denmark. A young male proboscis monkey cocks his head slightly and closes his eyes. Unexpected pale blue eyelids now complement his immaculately groomed auburn hair. He poses for a few seconds as if in meditation. He is a wild visitor to the feeding station at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in Sabah, Borneo – “the most laid-back character”, says Trolle, “quite unlike anything I’ve ever seen on another monkey” – connects us, he hopes, with a fellow primate. (Photo by Mogens Trolle/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020)

German-American model and television host Heidi Klum arrives for the screening of “La Passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Pot-au-Feu)” during the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, in Cannes, France, 24 May 2023. The movie is presented in the Official Competition of the festival which runs from 16 to 27 May.(Photo by Sebastien Nogier/EPA)

Women quench their thirst with the tap water on a hot summer afternoon during heatwave in Prayagraj on June 10, 2024. India's heatwave is the longest ever to hit the country, the government's top weather expert said on June 10 as he warned people will face increasingly oppressive temperatures. Parts of northern India have been gripped by a heatwave since mid-May, with temperatures soaring over 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). (Photo by Anil Shakya/AFP Photo)

People take part in the Festival of Colors at Asanbai Park in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 27 May 2023. The festival brings together young people sprinkling each other with colored powder to pay homage to India's traditional Holi festival. (Photo by Igor Kovalenko/EPA/EFE)

The night view of the National Assembly Building and Yeouido in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul taken on the December 27, 2024. The lights shine in a cross shape thanks to the cross filter used. (Photo by Koh Woon-ho)

An Oktoberfest visitor swings her dirndl, at the start of Oktoberfest, on Munich's Theresienwiese, in Germany, Saturday, September 20, 2025. (Photo by Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP Photo)