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)

A woman dressed as the Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy walks her dog dressed as the Cowardly Lion as they attend the annual Congressional Dog Costume Parade on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on October 27, 2021. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP Photo)

Suadar Oyunbold, age 5 runs from a Lion Dancer in Dublin City Farm at St Anne’s Park on January 9, 2023 to mark the launch of the programme for Dublin Lunar New Year which runs from 21-29 January. (Photo by Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times)

Cosplay fans (R) take selfies as comic book and gaming fans attend the annual Ani-Com and Games Fair in Hong Kong on July 28, 2017. Tens of thousands were expected to attend the annual event on animation, comics and games, from July 28 to August 1. (Photo by Isaac Lawrence/AFP Photo)

Choristers from a Norwegian choir on a visit to New York take photographs in Times Square. (Photo by Vecchio/Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1956

Burdened with a shawl full of her belongings, a woman stops for a rest on the road between Julaca and Puno in Peru. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). Circa 1955

Heather Larsen from Golden, Colorado, USA performs a split while walking the slackfline or highline across two towers in the Tower of David citadel complex overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem 02 May 2016. Larsen is one of the world's top female highliners, or slack liners and walked the lines as part of a Kickstarter campaign for an outdoor product. The tower at left was built by King King Herod some 2000 years ago. (Photo by Jim Hollander/EPA)

A person walks past graffiti by arstist selfnamed El Primo de Bansky (the cousin of Bansky) of former Spanish King Juan Carlos in Valencia, Spain, 05 August 2020. The Spanish Royal Household has announced that Emeritus King Juan Carlos I has proclaimed his intended decision to move abroad so as to not interfere in the image of the Spanish monarchy due to his alleged implication in a Swiss offshore account investigation. (Photo by Biel Aliño/EPA/EFE)