Natural world and wildlife shortlist. Lop Buri in Thailand is home to hundreds of macaques, which local residents consider to be disciples of the Hindu god Hanuman. While some people love them, others fear or even hate them. Despite the inconvenience they often cause, the macaques are generally respected and considered sacred. (Photo by Joan de la Malla/Sony World Photography Awards)

A woman drives a scooter with her dog in Hanoi on December 10, 2021, as Vietnamese officials in the central city of Hoi An announced it was set to be the country's first dog and cat meat free city. (Photo by Nhac Nguyen/AFP Photo)

Dogs and owners run during of 4k pet run “A Race with a Cause”, organized to raise funds for a shelter for rescued dogs in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, April 30, 202. (Photo by Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

A shopkeeper wears a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus waits for customers at a market in Bengaluru, India, Friday, November 20, 2020. India's total number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began has crossed 9 million. Nevertheless the country's new daily cases have seen a steady decline for weeks now and the total number of cases represents 0.6% of India's 1.3 billion population. (Photo by Aijaz Rahi/AP Photo)

A fuzzy caterpillar on a basil plant in west Bengal, India on December 25, 2023. The caterpillar’s defence system is its hair, which has microscopic barbs that break off easily in the skin of would-be predators. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A car drives between trees in a small park in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, April 8, 2024. (Photo by Michael Probst/AP Photo)

Ecuador's Ronald Zabala G., riding, Forever Young Wundermaske, fall off their horse during the Equestrian Cross Country competition at Chateau de Versailles for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Versailles, France. (Photo by Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP Photo)

A dress rehearsal for the world premiere of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Luna at the Hippodrome in Birmingham, UK on October 2, 2024. (Photo by Elliott Franks/The Times)