Pangolins in Crisis: Brent Stirton, South Africa; 1st place, Natural world and wildlife. “Pangolins are the world’s most illegally trafficked mammals, with an estimated one million trafficked to Asia in the last 10 years. Their scales are used in traditional Chinese and Vietnamese medicine, and their meat is sold as a high-priced delicacy. As a result, pangolins are listed as critically endangered and anyone who trades or consumes them is breaking the law. This body of work exposes the trade, while exploring aspects of illegality and celebrating the people who are trying to save these animals”. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Sony World Photography Awards 2020)

A mahout paints his elephant on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, outside the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, India on June 19, 2023. (Photo by Amit Dave/Reuters)

Argentina's Clara Baiocchi pats Puerto Rico's Alondra Negron as she falls during the women's 3000-meters steeplechase final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, November 4, 2023. (Photo by Fernando Vergara/AP Photo)

Competitors drive their homemade vehicle without an engine during the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Almaty, Kazakhstan on September 11, 2022. (Photo by Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters)

A dog is worshiped during Tihar or Diwali festival in Kathmandu, Nepal on November 12, 2023. Nepali people worship dogs, dedicated solely to the human's most devoted friend and guardian on second day of Tihar fesival. “Tihar” the Hindu festival of flowers and lights, is celebrated for five days. (Photo by Sunil Sharma/ZUMA Press Wire/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

People take part in a military exercise for civilians conducted by veterans of the Ukrainian National Guard Azov battalion, amid threat of Russian invasion, in Kyiv, Ukraine on January 30, 2022. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

British singer-songwriter Raye (L) during The BRIT Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on May 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by JMEnternational/JMEnternational for Brit Awards/Getty Images)

A participant learns to throw a grenade during a military exercise for civilians conducted by members of the Georgian National Legion paramilitary volunteer unit amid threat of Russian invasion in Kyiv, Ukraine on February 4, 2022. (Photo by Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters)