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)

Winti spiritual leader Ramon Mac-Nack (2nd L) looks on as as his bride Melissa Karwafodi (2nd R) hands a gourd to a Maroon priest (L) as they are wedded in the first Winti marriage ever to be held in public, in district Para, Suriname, November 16, 2015. The Winti religion, which formed centuries ago out of elements of different religious traditions that African slaves brought with them to Suriname, was considered a form idolatry and prohibited by law since the days of slavery until it was finally officially recognized in 1971. (Photo by Ranu Abhelakh/Reuters)

A girl in a military uniform poses for a photo after the see-off ceremony before the launch in Jiuquan, Gansu province, China, 25 April 2024. China's Shenzhou-18 manned spaceflight mission with three astronauts is the third manned spaceflight mission of China Space Station's development phase. The mission will last for about six months and the crew will carry out tasks such as installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair, and experiments in space. (Photo by Wu Hao/EPA/EFE)

epaselect epa05234254 A model presents a creation from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology Emerging Design Collection at the “BIFT ELLASSAY” Scholarship Awarding Ceremony during the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week at the Beijing Hotel, in Beijing, China, 29 March 2016. (Photo by Wu Hong/EPA)

Models present creations from the SGM ART MOUSE JI during the China Fashion Week in Beijing, China, 25 October 2020. The fashion​ event runs from 24 October to 01 November. (Photo by Wu Hong/EPA/EFE)

Models wait backstage ahead of their presentation of creations from the YINMU collection by designer Wei Jiang during the China Fashion Week in Beijing, China, 26 October 2020. The fashion event runs from 24 October to 01 November 2020. (Photo by Wu Hong/EPA/EFE)

Sichuan Opera performer Wu Yonghong, 26 years, of the Jinyuan Opera Company performs for villagers at the Dongyue Temple on May 2, 2016 in Cangshan, Sichuan province, China. Sichuan opera is a vibrant, centuries-old tradition that showcases the joys and challenges of daily life in rural China with tales of love, tradition, and family honor. Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Wu Lingling, a nurse from Central Hospital of Shanghai Fengxian District says goodbye to her husband Zhao Kun before leaving for Wuhan at Shanghai South Railway Station in east China's Shanghai, January 27, 2020. A team comprised of 50 medical workers from 40 hospitals in Shanghai left for Wuhan City on Monday to aid the novel coronavirus control efforts there. (Photo by Ding Ting/Xinhua News AgencyAlamy Live News)