The public is being given a chance to vote for their favourite nature image from a shortlist ranging from flamingos under power lines to a sloth sheltering its baby from the rain.
A ‘truly exceptional’ line-up of 24 images has been selected for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year’s Nuveen People’s Choice Award, with people able to vote online anywhere in the world.
A juvenile swimming crab hitching a night-time lift on a jellyfish, a pangolin pup in a rescue centre, a bear sheltering from the rain in a furnace with a butterfly on its nose, a polar bear family resting in the summer heat and young kestrels preparing to fledge are among the shortlisted images.
They also include a ‘superpod’ of spinner dolphins, a huge pile of confiscated snares from a national park in Uganda and young bear cubs play-fighting in a road silhouetted against the glow of car headlights.
The photographs, which document the natural world and the threats it faces, have been chosen from more than 60,000 entries to the annual competition, and are in addition to the 100 winning images announced in October.
A brown-throated three-toed sloth mother cradles her young in her arms to shelter it from the rain
A young lynx playfully throws a rodent into the air before killing and devouring it in Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain
A brushtail possum joey mirrors its mother climbing a branch while out foraging in Miena, Tasmania
An ambush bug nymph remains motionless in a flower, waiting for prey to wander within react in Ferndale, Michigan
A sun bear shelters from the rain in a furnace in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand
Against the darkness of the night-time sea, a juvenile swimming crab hitches a ride on a jellyfish
A leucistic otter feeds on a catfish in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
A mother polar bear and her three cubs pause peacefully in the summer heat
A polar bear cub looks into the camera as it accompanies its mother on an unsuccessful hunting trip
A rare tiger with wide, dark stripes wanders a tiger reserve in India
A mountainous pile of confiscated snares lies behind Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers
An elusive rufous-vented ground cuckoo plucks up a cicada in the depths of the rainforest in Costa Rica
A group of flamingos stands out against a stark industrial backdrop of power lines
A pangolin pup nestles into the warmth of a blanket at a rescue centre in South Africa
A sarus crane parent shares an intimate and moving moment with its one-week-old chick
The striking eyes of a curious lion-tailed macaque and its infant are on display as it races along a path
A sika deer carries the interlocked severed head of a rival male that had died after their battle. In autumn, male sika deer fight over females by clashing their antlers
A male marvellous spatuletail hummingbird shows off its long tail while it feeds on flowers
Three young kestrels prepare to leap from their nest to a nearby beam
A spectacular superpod of spinner dolphins herds lanternfish towards the surface of the ocean
A cellar spider, sometimes known as a daddy long-legs, carries a ball of precious eggs in its mouth
A silhouetted pair of young bear cubs rear up and play-fight in the middle of a quiet road in Jasper National Park, Canada
A tiny male sits on the abdomen of a well-camouflaged female broad-headed bark spider, waiting until she moults and is ready to mate in Phuket, Thailand
Dr Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in London, said: ‘No matter where you are in the world, it’s time to join the jury and vote in the Nuveen People’s Choice Award to select the photograph set for display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum.
‘Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year’s selection of images is truly exceptional, and we can’t wait to see which one will be chosen as the public’s favourite.’
The public can vote for their favourite image on digital screens at the exhibition at the Natural History Museum or online, with the winning entry and four runners-up to be announced on March 25 and showcased at the exhibition.
