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)

A hummingbird is photographed during the National Orchid Exhibition at the Jose Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden in Bogota, Colombia Septermber 20, 2018. Picture taken September 20, 2018. (Photo by Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters)

A polka-dotted foreign roadster for Polka-dot Queen Chili Williams was created by International Motors, a Hollywood automobile importer, shown March 8, 1948. Chili, a sports car enthusiast, requested that the British auto be “personalized”. (Photo by AP Photo)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates, of the United States, compete in the ice dance's rhythm dance segment at the ISU Grand Prix Finals of Figure Skating, Friday, December 6, 2024, in Grenoble, France. (Photo by Laurent Cipriani/AP Photo)

Isabeau Levito of the United States reacts after skating in the women's free program during the International Skating Union (ISU) World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal, Canada, on March 22, 2024. (Photo by Geoff Robins/AFP Photo)

China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates with fans after winning their second round match against Britain's Katie Boulter at the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 18, 2024. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters)

Alexis Tauaneai and Keele Browne of the St George Illawarra Dragons tackle Annessa Biddle of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks during a rugby league match at WIN Stadium in New South Wales, Australia on August 25, 2024. (Photo by James Gourley/AAP)