Aurora Australis from Beerbarrel Beach, by James Stone. Runner Up: Aurorae. (Photo by James Stone/Astronomy Photographer of the Year)

In this September 17, 2010 file photo a little brown bat is photographed in La Crosse Wis. Researchers for the first time found that little brown bats appear to be showing resistance to white-nose syndrome, which has killed millions of bats across North America. (Photo by Peter Thomson/La Crosse Tribune via AP Photo)

Kamchatka brown bears at Kurile Lake in Kamchatka peninsula’s volcanic terrain, Russia on August, 2017. Kamchatka brown bears are generally not dangerous to humans, and only 1% of encounters result in attack. (Photo by Igor Ivanko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

This photo of an elephant seal and Gentoo penguin shot by Andrew James in Yankee Harbour, Antarctica. (Photo by Andrew James/Travel Photographer of the Year)

The founder of the UK’s only hobby horse club, Zoe Brown, watches on as members enjoy the activity on July 14, 2025. Brown began running competitions to help her own daughter, 11, feel less shame around her pastime. (Photo by South West News Service)

Two brown bear cubs born at Whipsnade Zoo. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 1970

A female brown bear with cubs fishing on Lake Kronotskoye as part of the South Kamchatka, Russia on Sanctuary, August 13, 2017. (Photo by TASS/Barcroft Images)

“Romantic”. A brown bear in Martinselkonen, Finland. (Photo by Valtteri Mulkahainen/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)