Shooting star by Tony Wu, US/Japan. Winner, underwater. The electrifying reproductive dance of a giant sea star. As the surrounding water filled with sperm and eggs from spawning sea stars, Wu faced several challenges. Stuck in a small, enclosed bay with only a macro lens for photographing small subjects, he backed up to squeeze the undulating sea star into his field of view. The dancing posture of spawning sea stars rising and swaying may help release eggs and sperm, or may help sweep the eggs and sperm into the currents where they fertilise together in the water. Kinko Bay, Japan. (Photo by Tony Wu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

A child wearing a costume runs up the steps during Purim celebrations at the Coral Temple synagogue in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, March 20, 2019. Children put on fancy costume dress joining dozens of believers from Romania's Jewish community who attended a Purim service to celebrate the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)

Calves look out as they are transported in a cart in the village of Litkovka, in Omsk region, Russia on March 20, 2021. (Photo by Alexey Malgavko/Reuters)

A cow grazes in a field in front of the Nahr Bin Omar oil field and facility near Iraq's southern port city of Basra, on April 4, 2023. (Photo by Hussein Faleh/AFP Photo)

A child sleeps inside a makeshift hammock made of a saree which is a tradition Indian costume worn by women, along a road in New Delhi on August 19, 2021. (Photo by Sajjad Hussain/AFP Photo)

Australian professional boxers Ebanie Bridges (L) and Shannon O'Connell weigh-in ahead of their IBF World Bantamweight Title fight during the weigh in at Aspire, Leeds, United Kingdom on Friday, December 9, 2022. (Photo by Tim Goode/PA Wire)

This bat gives a cheeky smile as he gobbles down his food at Singapore Zoo, on September 10, 2013. (Photo by Benny Iskander/HotSpot Media)

A mother bear acting as a taxi for her cubs and they jump on for a piggyback. Two sloth bear cubs fighting for the best place on mum's back as she carries them across Coonoor, India in July 2022. (Photo by Ranganathan Vasudevan/Media Drum Images)