An alligator is pictured stuck in the mud of the dry Pilcomayo river, which is facing its worst drought in almost two decades, on the border between Paraguay and Argentina, in Boqueron, July 3, 2016. (Photo by Jorge Adorno/Reuters)

A protestor makes a selfie in front of a burning car during a national trade union demonstration in Brussels, Thursday November 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of demonstrators are converging on the Belgian capital to protest government policies that will extend the pension age, contain wages and cut into public services. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP Photo)

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)

A resident gestures about the loss of his home following an overnight fire at the Addition Hills area in suburban Mandaluyong city east Manila, Philippines, Monday, November 14, 2016. Fire officials say the overnight fire destroyed hundreds of homes, rendered more than 5,000 people homeless and resulted in the death of two residents. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)

Photographer Han Youngsoo captured the ordinary people of Korea as the country emerged from war into an age of prosperity. Han Youngsoo: Photographs of Seoul 1956–63 is at the International Center of Photography (ICP), Jersey City, New Jersey, until June 9, 2017. Here: Seoul, Korea. (Photo by Han Youngsoo/The Guardian)

People attend The Night of Ancient Bonfires event in Saulkrasti, Latvia on August 27, 2022. During The Night of Ancient Bonfires people light bonfires along the coastline of the Baltic Sea. (Photo by Ints Kalnins/Reuters)

Ohio State drum major performs during the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on September 3, 2022. (Photo by Adam Cairns/USA TODAY Sports)

It's a 30-day-old Echidna baby, known as a “puggle” – one of only 24 ever bred in captivity. The proud parents are Tippy and Pickle of Australia Zoo. The tiny baby, whose s*x has not yet been identified, hatched from a soft egg and will continue to develop and nurse inside Tippy's warm pouch. (Photo by Australia Zoo/Rex/Sipa Press)