Behaviour: Mammals category. Giant Gathering by Tony Wu, USA. Dozens of sperm whales mingled noisily off Sri Lanka’s northeast coast, stacked as far down as Tony could see. This was a congregation of dozens of social units, like a gathering of the clans. Aggregations like this could be a critical part of the whales’ rich social lives but are rarely reported. Some two thirds of the population was wiped out before commercial whaling was banned in 1986. This kind of major gathering could be “a sign that populations are recovering”, says Tony. (Photo by Tony Wu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017)

In this January 27, 2019, photo, Hindu holy men of monastic order Juna Akhara participate in a ritual before becoming Naga Sadhus or naked holy men at Sangam, the confluence of three holy rivers during the Kumbh Mela or pitcher festival in Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh state, India. At every Kumbh, including this year's, thousands of devotees were initiated into the reclusive sect of the Naga Sadhus, naked, ash-smeared cannabis-smoking Hindu warriors and onetime-armed defenders of the faith who for centuries have lived as ascetics in jungles and caves. (Photo by Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP Photo)

Palestinian members of Gaza's Bar Woolf sports team perform with fire above the ruins of a building destroyed in recent Israeli air strikes, in Beit Lahia, on May 26, 2021. A ceasefire was reached late last week after 11 days of deadly violence between Israel and the Hamas movement which runs Gaza, stopping Israel's devastating bombardment on the overcrowded Palestinian coastal enclave which, according to the Gaza health ministry, killed 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and wounded more than 1,900 people. Meanwhile, rockets from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Israeli soldier. (Photo by Mahmud Hams/AFP Photo)

Mah Chan, a Long Neck Padaung hill tribe woman weaves a scraf for sale to tourists in a small village where 30 familes live July 13, 2006 in Chiang Dao, Thailand. All the Long Neck villages are set up for tourists and just over a year ago the hill tribe members were hand picked to move closer to Chiang Mai from more remote communities so that they could be more accessible. The Padaung women famously wear brass rings around their necks, beginning at five-years-old, to distort the growth of their collarbones and making them look like they have long necks. They are originally from eastern Burma near the Thailand border. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Laura Titch, dressed as Mary of Guise, and Duncan Maclachlan, dressed as Alexander of Stewart, rehearse for Stirling Castle's grand renaissance palace opening on June 3, 2011 in Stirling, Scotland. The palace has been closed for two years, while a Ј12 million pound project was undertaken to return the palace to how it might have looked back in the 1540s, when it was home to Mary of Guise, the widow of James V. Their daughter, Mary Queen of Scots, was raised there before living in France. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

In this photo illustration, an endangered Chinese box turtle which hatched at Bristol Zoo is placed on a box of matches on August 12, 2008 in Bristol, England. It weighs just 15 grams and measures around 4cm long whereas an adult box turtle weighs around 800 grams, measures around 16 cm long and can live up to 50 years. Chinese box turtles are hunted for their meat for use in medicine or as pets and have been listed as endangered on the International Union for Endangered Species Red List. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

A breeder poses with fruits and specially made high-fibre bread, for 36-year-old giant panda Jia Jia, at the Hong Kong Ocean Park, China June 30, 2015. Jia Jia, the oldest giant panda living in captivity, is set to challenge the world record for the animals' longevity, with her age said to put her on par with a human centenarian. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

A bodypainter uses UV paint to create electrifying masterpieces of stunning landscapes on models. John Poppletons vibrant Bodyscapes feature bright savannahs, lightning storms and vivid galaxies leaping from the bodies of his subjects. The artist, who lives in Wellsville in Utah, USA, uses a black light on his paintings to make them look as close to real life as possible. He predominantly uses female models and often paints across their backs to give him the largest surface area to work with. Here: “Bamboo Mist”. (Photo by John Poppleton/Caters News)