Guardian of the Mangroves – Overall Winner. Tanya Houppermans, Cuba. A curious American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) swims right up to Tanya, at Gardens of the Queen (Jardines De La Reina), an archipelago off the coast of Cuba. It has been strictly protected since 1996, and is one of the most untouched marine ecosystems in the world. ‍ “The healthy population of American crocodiles is down to the pristine condition of the mangroves and I wanted to capture close ups of this gentle giant in its natural habitat. I hope this image can illustrate that protecting areas like this is so critical”. (Photo by Tanya Griffin Houppermans/Mangrove Photographer of the Year)

Madison Chock, top, and Evan Bates, bottom, perform during the ice dance rhythm dance competition at the U.S. figure skating championships Friday, January 24, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (Photo by Travis Heying/AP Photo)

Crews move a 39 foot long, 16 foot tall, 2400 lbs. replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex from behind the Museum Of Science And History in Jacksonville, Fla., to its new location in front of the entrance of the museum Wednesday morning, May 20, 2015, to kickoff the upcoming Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit. The exhibiti, which opens this week, includes animatronic dinosaurs as well as prehistoric fossils and runs through September 7. (Photo by Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP Photo)

A Buddhist monk salvages a statue of a Buddhist deity from a monastery around the famous Swayambhunath stupa after it was damaged by Saturday's earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, April 30, 2015. In mere seconds, Saturday's earthquake devastated a swathe of Nepal. Three of the seven World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley have been severely damaged, including Durbar Square with pagodas and temples dating from the 15th to 18th centuries, according to UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency. (Photo by Niranjan Shrestha/AP Photo)

Costumed attendees participate in the Dragon Con Parade, during the annual science fiction, pop culture and fantasy convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 02 September 2023. Thousands of attendees, some costumed, crowd downtown Atlanta for the annual Labor Day Weekend gathering. (Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA/EFE)

A member of the riot police gets ready to repel the attacks of protesters during a protest against President Sebastian Piñera during the seventh day of protests against President Sebastian Piñera on October 24, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. Although President Sebastian Piñera announced measures to improve equality, unions called for a national strike and demonstrations continue as casualties are now at least 18. Demands behind the protest include issues like health care, pension system, privatization of water, public transport, education, social mobility and corruption. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)

Waves to the height of 10m reaching 20-30m at the point of impact smashed against the coastline of the idyllic coastal city of Saint Malo, France on April 10, 2024. The extreme tidal waves were the result of Storm Pierrick. (Photo by Mathieu Rivrin/Solent News & Photo Agency)

A fruit importer's lorry at Covent Garden, London, with its driver's cabin in the shape of an apple. (Photo by Harold Clements/London Express/Getty Images). October 1928