A deer with a rather unusual trophy adorns its antlers. The gruesome relic is not made of leaves or trash, but rather the decomposed head of another sika deer that met a tragic end in a battle for dominance. A photograph taken by Kohei Nagira captures the moment when the victorious male dragged his opponent's corpse around for days until it disintegrated.
The image, titled "Never-Ending Struggle," is part of 24 finalists vying for the Natural History Museum of London's Nuveen People's Choice Award for 2026. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of life and death being inextricably linked.
On the other side of the spectrum, wildlife photography often reveals unexpected pairings that defy conventional wisdom. For instance, an American photographer named Will Nicholls captured two bear cubs caught in a playfight under the glow of car headlights, silhouetted against a dark forest.
However, some relationships are more unusual than others. A baby brown-throated three-toed sloth is seen smiling contentedly as it snuggles up to its mother for protection from the rain. Dvir Barkay took this photograph in Le Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica.
Wildlife often reveals its quirky side through unexpected partnerships. For example, a juvenile swimming crab appears to have hitched a ride on a jellyfish while American photographer Chris Gug was scuba diving at night in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reason for this unorthodox partnership remains unclear.
Then there's the story of camouflage. A tiny male broad-headed bark spider has taken up residence on the head of a camouflaged female spider. Artur Tomaszek took the image, which might be unsettling but serves as a reminder that nature is full of unexpected surprises.
Lastly, there's Adam Oswell's poignant photograph capturing snares confiscated by rangers in Murchison Falls National Park. The image highlights the dangers posed by unauthorized snaring and showcases the dedication of those working to protect wildlife.
In these photographs, we're reminded that life is a delicate balance between beauty and brutality, and that sometimes it takes us stepping back to truly appreciate the intricate web of relationships within our natural world.
The image, titled "Never-Ending Struggle," is part of 24 finalists vying for the Natural History Museum of London's Nuveen People's Choice Award for 2026. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of life and death being inextricably linked.
On the other side of the spectrum, wildlife photography often reveals unexpected pairings that defy conventional wisdom. For instance, an American photographer named Will Nicholls captured two bear cubs caught in a playfight under the glow of car headlights, silhouetted against a dark forest.
However, some relationships are more unusual than others. A baby brown-throated three-toed sloth is seen smiling contentedly as it snuggles up to its mother for protection from the rain. Dvir Barkay took this photograph in Le Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica.
Wildlife often reveals its quirky side through unexpected partnerships. For example, a juvenile swimming crab appears to have hitched a ride on a jellyfish while American photographer Chris Gug was scuba diving at night in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reason for this unorthodox partnership remains unclear.
Then there's the story of camouflage. A tiny male broad-headed bark spider has taken up residence on the head of a camouflaged female spider. Artur Tomaszek took the image, which might be unsettling but serves as a reminder that nature is full of unexpected surprises.
Lastly, there's Adam Oswell's poignant photograph capturing snares confiscated by rangers in Murchison Falls National Park. The image highlights the dangers posed by unauthorized snaring and showcases the dedication of those working to protect wildlife.
In these photographs, we're reminded that life is a delicate balance between beauty and brutality, and that sometimes it takes us stepping back to truly appreciate the intricate web of relationships within our natural world.
! These images are like nature's own soap operas - drama, love, friendship, and sometimes even a bit creepy 
. I mean who knew sika deer could be so ruthless to each other? And those bear cubs playfighting under the lights is just too cute for words 
. But what really gets me is how these pics remind us that life is all about balance - beauty and brutality, love and survival 
. As a parent, it's amazing to see the world through our kids' eyes (even if they can't even see yet) and appreciate the intricate web of life. It makes me want to teach my little ones more about the wild and its many wonders 
I mean, have you seen this deer's antlers? It's like something out of a dark fantasy novel! But at the same time, it's actually just nature being its brutal self 
. Like, the whole "struggle is life" vibe is so true, right? We'd be weird if we didn't acknowledge that death and violence are part of the deal with being alive.
I mean, who knew jellyfish and crabs could become BFFs? 
It's like they're saying, "Hey, humans, get used to this – nature is weird." 
. It's like, we need to step up our game if we want to protect these incredible creatures and their habitats.
. To me, it's not just about capturing cute animal moments (although, let's be real, they're adorable 
); it's about showing us the beauty in the brutal, too.
I think what's really cool about these photos is how they show us the raw reality of wildlife without sugarcoating anything. Like, who needs cute animal pics when we have a deer with a decomposing head on its antlers? 
anyway wildlife pics always show us that nature is wild and unpredictable, but also kinda adorable when you think about it 