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)

People jump over a campfire during a celebration on the traditional Ivana Kupala (Ivan the Bather) holiday, the ancient tradition, originating from pagan times, is usually marked with grand overnight festivities during which people sing and dance around campfires, believing it will purge them of their sins and make them healthier, in Kiev, Ukraine, July 6, 2016. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Spanish runner Francisco Contreras, 77, known as “Super Paco”, runs as he participates in the XVIII 101km international competition in the outskirts of Ronda, southern Spain, May 9, 2015. About 7,000 participants, including runners, mountain bikers and duathletes, run a track of 101 km (63 miles) in less than 24 hours through the “Serrania de Ronda” (Ronda Mountain Range) during this competition organised by the 4th Tercio (Regiment) “Alejandro Farnesio” of the Spanish Legion. The Puente Nuevo is 120 metres (394 feet) high over the gorge of the river that divides the city of Ronda. Picture taken using long exposure. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)

An Egyptian man shows off his motorcycle skills, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt on July 17, 2020. (Photo by Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

A man reacts as health workers help collect a nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 in Hyderabad, India, Thursday, September 17, 2020. As India’s coronavirus confirmed cases jump by a record 97,894 cases in the past 24 hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government faced a scathing opposition criticism in Parliament for its handling of the pandemic and a contracting economy leaving millions jobless on Thursday. (Photo by Mahesh Kumar A./AP Photo)

A bolt of lighting strikes over Lewiston, Idaho, behind the Interstate Bridge that spans the Snake River into Clarkston, Wash., on the morning of Thursday, July 1, 2021. Multiple thunderstorms moved through the area on Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. (Photo by Pete Caster/Lewiston Tribune via AP Photo)

A crowd of people gathered at the seaside of Udaipur, Digha, India before a cloud burst of rain on May 21, 2022. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Monsoon rain will likely arrive a week early this year due to twin cyclones, Asani and Karim. (Photo by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A landscape photographer has captured a stunning picture of the Isle of Wight's iconic Needles emerging from the sea mist early February 2023. Jamie Russell captured this moment on the most western part of the island. (Photo by Jamie Russell/IslandVisionss/Bournemouth News)