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)

Zahra Lari runs in a scene shot for the Nike Middle East ad campaign filmed in Dubai, UAE, February 10, 2017. An online commercial released by Nike (NKE.N) this week that showed Arab women fencing, boxing and spinning on ice-skates has stirred controversy over its attempt to smash stereotypes about women leading home-bound lives in the conservative region. (Photo by Reuters/Nike)

Seiichiro Nishimoto, CEO of Shelter Co., poses wearing a gas mask at a model room for the company's nuclear shelters in the basement of his house in Osaka, Japan on April 26, 2017. With nearby North Korea increasing its show of power day by day with missile launches and nuclear tests, people in Japan are preparing for the worst by building private nuclear shelters, Reuters reports. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Cows rush through mud and water while jockey holds onto their tails, on March 12, 2016 in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. For hundreds of years these farmers have competed in one of the worldís most oddest races in the hopes of showing off their cattle. Known as Pacu Jawi the traditional cow race takes place in Padang, West Sumatra, and has become the highlight of the year for locals. (Photo by Teh Han Lin/Barcroft Images)

A woman walks past a painting by Jenny Saville entitled “Red Stare Head IV” on display in the Royal Academy of Arts' Summer Exhibition on June 2, 2011 in London, England. The Summer Exhibition is the world's largest open submission contemporary art show, now in its 243rd year, with over 12,000 entries received from 27 countries. The exhibition features over 1100 works of art including: painting, sculpture, photography, architecture and film, it officially opens to the public on June 7, 2011. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

The ‘Stop the Violence’ advertising campaign by Brazilian agency Terremoto Propaganda aims to reduce the risk of accidents on the road. The visually grabbing print campaign shows a vehicle painted on the face of one person and the fist of another, drawing the comparison between what is widely known to be intentional violence, such as punching someone in the face, with what many incorrectly consider unintentional, like speeding or unsafe lane changes. Let us know what you think about this campaign in the comments below.

These pictures show a five-year-old boy who is already extremely comfortable around alligators. Blaise's dad T-Mike runs the Kliebert Gator Farm, the biggest and oldest in the world and which was started by his grandfather Harvey in 1957. Photo: T-Mike Kliebert and his son Blaise tackle Chinaman a 12 foot alligator in Hammond, Louisiana. (Photo by Barcroft Media)

“My children are not only my little darlings but off-shoots of myself. When I look at them, I have a strange feeling – as if I am watching myself re-living my life. What I want to show is their “living form”. – Hideaki Hamada. Photo: “Rainy days and mondays #1”. (Photo and caption by Hideaki Hamada)