Wildlife Photographer of the Year: unforgettable animal behaviour

From basking gharial to stampeding muskoxen, these images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition have been selected for a Natural History Museum book, Unforgettable Behaviour, and offer a unique glimpse into hidden worlds of animal survival and joy

  • When the Lion Lies Down With the Foal, Chobe national park, Botswana


    The lion gently holds a foal after it became separated from its herd while migrating through the lions’ territory. When the foal started to move away, within minutes it was caught and killed by the rest of the pride. The likelihood is the lion was playing with its young prey, but there are rare instances of lionesses taking the young of their prey and keeping them alive.
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    When the Lion Lies Down With the Foal

  • Big Chipper, Finland


    Europe’s biggest woodchipper, the black woodpecker, tosses out woodchips from the nest hole he has been fashioning. The hole is a major excavation, probably extending 60cm down into the trunk. The woodpecker’s chisel-like beak has a high-strength inner layer of bone and a flexible outer layer that helps reduce the shock of the vibrations. If the female finds the nest chamber to her satisfaction, she will lay two to eight eggs, which the pair take turns to incubate.
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    Big ChipperFinland Europe’s biggest woodchipper, the black woodpecker, tosses out woodchips from the nest hole he has been fashioning. The hole is a major excavation, probably extending 60cm down into the trunk. The woodpecker’s chisel-like beak has a high-strength inner layer of bone and a flexible outer layer that helps reduce the shock of the vibrations. If the female finds the nest chamber to her satisfaction, she will lay two to eight eggs, which the pair take turns to incubate.

  • Creche call-up, Argentina


    A Patagonian mara presents its bottom to its mother so she can sniff its identity. Once her twins are identified, she will suckle them near the communal den, fending off other hungry youngsters. Her mate keeps watch for predators. The rest of the creche go to ground immediately if an adult warns that an eagle or fox is about. More than 20 pairs have been known to den together. Such creche denning is unique among mammals and offers a greater chance of survival.
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    Creche call-upArgentina A Patagonian mara presents its bottom to its mother so she can sniff its identity. Once her twins are identified, she will suckle them near the communal den, fending off other hungry youngsters. Her mate keeps watch for predators. The rest of the creche go to ground immediately if an adult warns that an eagle or fox is about. More than 20 pairs have been known to den together. Such creche denning is unique among mammals and offers a greater chance of survival.

  • The Stampede, Victoria Island, Canada


    Muskoxen stampede over frozen tundra, unusual behaviour for these Arctic animals unless a pack of wolves is chasing them. The more common reaction of muskoxen is to face a predator in a line. If attacked by wolves, the group forms a compact circle, all facing out, with calves in the centre. What the wolves want to do is to spook the muskoxen and make them run, knowing that the weaker animals can be picked off by the pack.
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    The StampedeVictoria Island, Canada Muskoxen stampede over frozen tundra, unusual behaviour for these Arctic animals unless a pack of wolves is chasing them. The more common reaction of muskoxen is to face a predator in a line. If attacked by wolves, the group forms a compact circle, all facing out, with calves in the centre. What the wolves want to do is to spook the muskoxen and make them run, knowing that the weaker animals can be picked off by the pack.

  • Respect, Kronotsky nature reserve, Russia


    The photographer’s cat, Ryska – her name means little lynx in Russian – stands outside their cabin and with aggressive posturing warns off a fox. In winter, foxes would regularly visit the cabin searching for food. If one peered in at the window, possible when the snow was deep, Ryska would sit on the other side, fur raised, and growl. When outside, she would hold her ground. The foxes were not always frightened and so encounters could be a sort of dance.
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    RespectKronotsky nature reserve, Russia’s far east The photographer’s cat, Ryska – her name means little lynx in Russian – stands outside their cabin and with aggressive posturing warns off a fox. In winter, foxes would regularly visit the cabin searching for food. If one peered in at the window, possible when the snow was deep, Ryska would sit on the other side, fur raised, and growl. When outside, she would hold her ground. The foxes were not always frightened and so encounters could be a sort of dance.

  • Boto Ball Play, Rio Negro, Amazon, Brazil


    A male Amazon river dolphin, or boto, throws around a macucu nut, watched by other botos – possibly pure showing-off. Ball‑throwing seems to occur mainly among groups of adult males as a sort of aggressive competition. Any object will do, a branch, a ball of mud, or even a turtle.
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    Boto Ball PlayRio Negro, Amazon, Brazil A male Amazon river dolphin, or boto, throws around a macucu nut, watched by other botos, possibly pure showing-off. Ball‑throwing seems to occur mainly among groups of adult males as a sort of aggressive competition. Any object will do, a branch, a ball of mud, or even a turtle.

  • The Penguin Protector, Antarctica


    An Adélie penguin attempts to drive off a giant petrel. The chicks have gathered for protection while their parents are at sea finding food. The petrel appears smaller than it is because of the perspective, but it is larger than the squawking, flipper-waving Adélie and capable of pecking to death a young penguin. Usually, southern giant petrels act like vultures, feeding on the carcasses of the young. But when carrion is not available, they will pick off any chicks separated from their parents.
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    The Penguin ProtectorThe Antarctic A plucky Adélie penguin attempts to drive off a giant petrel. The chicks have gathered for protection while their parents are at sea finding food. The giant petrel appears smaller than it is because of the perspective. It is larger than the squawking, flipper-waving Adélie and is capable of dragging off and pecking to death a young penguin. Usually, southern giant petrels act like vultures, feeding on the carcasses of the young that perish. But when carrion is not available, they will pick off any chicks separated from their parents.

  • Salmon Swipe, Katmai national park, Alaska


    A female grizzly bear fishes for salmon in a pool below rapids. The salmon gather before attempting to leap the rapids and continue upstream to spawn. In late summer, most of the grizzlies in southern Alaska congregate along the rivers to feast on the salmon returning from the Pacific to their natal streams. This female was experienced at fishing, using different techniques, depending on the depth of the water. Here she is swimming above a shoal of chum salmon, trying to scoop them out with her massive paws.
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    Salmon SwipeKuliak Bay, Katmai national park, Alaska A female grizzly bear fishes for salmon in a pool below rapids. The salmon gather before attempting to leap the rapids and continue upstream to spawn. In late summer, most of the grizzlies in this southern Alaska congregate along the rivers to feast on the salmon returning from the Pacific to their natal streams. This female was experienced at fishing, using different techniques, depending on the depth of the water. Here she is swimming above a shoal of chum salmon, trying to scoop them out with her massive paws.

  • A Little Swinger, India


    It’s the end of the day and a group of black-footed grey langurs settle into a tree for the night. But this infant has decided it’s playtime. Swinging on the tails of two juveniles, he makes a characteristic play face. His mother takes little notice, and the adolescents tolerate his acrobatics. Langurs are very social and youngsters play as often as they can, which helps develop bone and muscle, and also develops social bonds and communication skills.
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    A Little SwingerIt’s the end of the day and a group of black-footed grey langurs settle into a tree for the night. But this infant has decided it’s playtime. Swinging on the tails of two juveniles, he makes a characteristic play face. His mother takes little notice, and the adolescents tolerate his acrobatics. Langurs are very social and youngsters play as often as they can, which helps develop bone and muscle and also develops social bonds and communication skills.

  • Mother’s Little Headful, Chambal River, India


    A female gharial hangs out in the water while her babies use her head as a basking perch. She is one of a colony of gharials that have nested at this riverbank site. The mothers keep watch from the river, with the female acting as chief guard for 100 or so hatchlings. Adults will protect the young for at least a month until the monsoon rains arrive and they move down river to feed in deeper water. Gharials are under pressure from illegal sand‑mining in nesting areas, illegal fishing, egg collection and pollution.
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    Mother’s Little HeadfulChambal River, India A female gharial hangs out in the water while her babies use her head as a basking perch. She is one of a colony of gharials that have nested at this riverbank site. The mothers keep watch from the river, with the female acting as chief guard for 100 or so hatchlings. Adults will protect the young for at least a month until the monsoon rains arrive and they move down river to feed in deeper water. Gharials are under pressure from illegal sand‑mining in nesting areas, illegal fishing, egg collection and pollution.
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