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)

A toque macaque is eating flowers in the water at the pilgrimage site in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, on January 13, 2024. The toque macaque (Macaca sinica), a reddish-brown-colored Old World monkey, is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known as the rilewa or rilawa. It is named for the whorl of hair at the crown of its head, which resembles a brimless toque cap. (Photo by Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Dancers wearing face shields to prevent the spread of the coronavirus perform during an exercise in Tangerang, Indonesia, Saturday, November 28, 2020, (Photo by Tatan Syuflana/AP Photo)

A Hindu devotee in a trance on their pilgrimage to the Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 28, 2018. Malaysian Hindu participate in the annual Hindu thanksgiving festival in which devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance held in honour of Lord Murugan, Hindu in Malaysia celebrated Thaipusam begin on Jan 28 until 31 this year. (Photo by Aflo/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A young girl takes selfie with Easter rabbit sculpture during the Easter eggs (Pysanka) and rabbit exhibition in front of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, 05 April 2018. Ukrainians will mark Orthodox Easter on 08 April 2018, according to Julian calendar. (Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

These little grizzly bear cubs had fun making a real splash when their mum took them for a dip to learn how to fish. Kamchatka, Russia. (Photo by Marco Mattiussi/Solent News & Photo Agency)

A visitor takes a photo of a boulder plastic made of synthetic material called “To be in Limbo” hangs from the ceiling of the 20 meter high Jesuit Church in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, November 25, 2014. The eight meter high, hollow and 700 kilogram heavy sculpture from the artists group Steinbrener/Dempf and Huber is supposed to symbolize faith and its threatening moments. The installation will remain until April 19, 2015 and then move to a church in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Ronald Zak/AP Photo)

A puffadder snake is guided to safety as firefighters battle a wildfire near Pringle Bay, as firefighters remain on high alert amid dry, hot, and windy weather in Western Cape, South Africa on January 30, 2024. (Photo by Esa Alexander/Reuters)