A man carrying butchered dogs drives past a pet dog at a dog meat market in Yulin, Guangxi Autonomous Region, June 21, 2015. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

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)

Brazilian model Izabel Goulart for the screening of the film “Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain)” at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, France on May 13, 2018. (Photo by Stephane Mahe/Reuters)

The stern of the stranded cargo vessel Rena grounded on the Astrolabe Reef is seen on October 20, 2011 in Tauranga, New Zealand. Salvage crews continue to pump oil off the ship in an effort to remove as much as possible before bad weather predicted for the evening threatens to break the vessel and release more oil into the sea. Over 300 tonnes of oil has leaked from Rena since it hit the reef on October 5. (Photo by New Zealand Defence Force via Getty Images)

Jorge (2nd R), 31, who is among members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and his brother Paulo, 28, (R) laugh at Arouche Square in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 20, 2016. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Battle-weary American troops withdraw from Yong San in Korea. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). 1950

Psychotria is a genus containing some 1900 species within the plant family Rubiaceae. Members of the genus are small understorey trees in tropical forests. The former genus Cephaelis is considered a synomym of Psychotria.

Greece-based illustrator, Charis Tsevis took his fascination with our wired world to develop his series of colorful and detailed wire illustrations. He uses all types of wires, including USB cords and phone cables, and creates form figures, faces and animals by tangling them together. Tsevis says, “All of them have to do with the relationship between the network and the human body and spirit”. Photo: “The Conquering Lion: Plug into the power of Reggae”. (Photo by Charis Tsevis)