Kea (Kea Nestor notabilis), Arthur's Pass, South Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix), side view, red and pink with yellow markings, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

African elephant (Loxodonta africana), Kruger National Park, South Africa, Africa

A thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) uses effective camouflage to blend into its surroundings on the seafloor of Lembeh Strait, Indonesia.

A giant oceanic manta ray hovers over a cleaning station near a sea fan, Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

A thorny seahorse clings to an algae stock, Anilao, Philippines.

Whale Shark, La Paz, Mexico.

Young Galapagos sea lion bulls (Zalophus wollebaeki) mock-fighting in the Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Polar bear (Ursus Maritimus) on Axel Heiberg island, Nunavut, Canadian Arctic, Canada, North America

Northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi) covered in spilled oil from the wreck of the MS Oliva, Nightingale island, Tristan da Cunha Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Four manatees congregate to feed on algae at Fanning Springs State Park, Florida.

A close-up head profile of a manatee swimming in Fanning Springs State Park, Florida.

A pair of manatees swimming in formation with the lead manatee in the crystal clear freshwater of the Fanning Springs inlet to the Suwannee River, Florida.

A West Indian Manatee surfacing in the shallow clear freshwaters of Fanning Springs, a state park in northeast Florida.

Whale shark swimming with mouth open, accompanied by fusilier fish, Maldives.

Whale shark swimming under a boat, with sharp sunrays cutting through the water, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia.

Whale shark coming up from the depths under the boat, mouth wide open, with sharp sunrays cutting through the water.

Whale shark, Ari and Male Atoll, Maldives.

Whale shark reflected on surface with scuba diver in the distance, Christmas Island, Australia.

Whale Shark feeding off coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Three men with two goats on a motorbike, Eastern Central African Republic

Salt water crocodile (crocodylus porosus) at Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar Odisha India. Vulnerable species according to the IUCN Red List of threatened species classification.

Detail of a colorful giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) growing on a reef near Alor in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. This remote tropical region is home to extraordinary marine biodiversity. near Alor in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia.

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pup lips being probed by a brown skua (Catharacta lonnbergi), South Georgia, Polar Regions

Female southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) with newborn pup on the beach in Stromness Bay, South Georgia Island

Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) swimming over the Liberty Wreck in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia.

A large whale shark under a bagan, siphoning water from the surface, with sunrays shining in the water, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia.

Whale Shark feeding off coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), on the reef near Caye Caulker, inside the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Belize

Adult great blue heron (Ardea herodias cognata) feeding on green sea turtle hatchlings, Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

A pair of manatees appear to be greeting each other as they meet in the clear freshwater of the Fanning Spring inlet to the Suwannee River in Fanning Springs, Florida.

Galapagos sea lion mother nursing pup (Zalophus wollebaeki) in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Adult yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia aureola) in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Lion (Panthera leo), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Lion (Panthera leo), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Lion (Panthera leo), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Lion (Panthera leo), Masai Mara, Kenya, East Africa, Africa

Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), vulnerable species found in the Indo-Pacific Oceans, photo taken in captivity

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) leaping, Mediterranean species listed as vulnerable, this individual is from the rare and isolated population of this species found in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus aduncus) and Finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) - died from net entanglement. Found on island off coa

Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) head detail, vulnerable species found in the Indo-Pacific Oceans, photo taken in captivity

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) leaping alongside boat, although the most abundant dolphin species in pelagic waters of the Mediterranean Sea the population is listed as vulnerable, North Aegean Sea, Greece. (RR)

Yawning Cheetah

Polar Bear

Steller's Sea Eagles

Polar Bear

Lion Cub Playing with Female Lion

Two Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) stand near blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) stands on plain with wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

View taken from behind of silhouettes of two blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) standing on the savanna watching a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) pass by, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa

Two lionesses (Panthera leo) lie on rock facing camera in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Close-up portrait of two lappet-faced vultures (Torgos tracheliotos) standing on grass, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa

Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) roars at another in river in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lioness (Panthera leo) lies on high rock watching camera in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Young male lion (Panthera leo) stands guarding wildebeest carcase in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Close-up of head of Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) against a bokeh background, Gabus Game Ranch; Otavi, Otjozondjupa, Namibia

Close-up portrait of a lioness (Panthera leo) lying down in the golden long grass on the savanna in the Etosha National Park; Otavi, Oshikoto, Namibia

Extreme close-up of the striped fur and mane of a plains zebra (Equus quagga - formerly Equus burchellii) in the Etosha National Park; Otavi, Oshikoto, Namibia

Hartmann's mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) staring at the camera while standing in the shade under some trees at the Gabus Game Ranch at sunset; Otavi, Otjozondjupa, Namibia

Close-up of head of Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) against a blue sky, Gabus Game Ranch; Otavi, Otjozondjupa, Namibia

Adult Hartmann's mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) standing in the shade looking forward while foal is looking at the camera at the Gabus Game Ranch at sunrise; Otavi, Otjozondjupa, Namibia

Close-up portrait of a plains zebra (Equus quagga - formerly Equus burchellii) eyeing the camera through the bushes in the Etosha National Park; Otavi, Oshikoto, Namibia

Close-up of head of Southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) against a blue sky, Gabus Game Ranch; Otavi, Otjozondjupa, Namibia

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) crossing an earth dam on the horizon against a blue sky, Laikipia, Kenya

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) stands on the savannah browsing an acacia tree near Mount Kenya, Laikipia, Kenya

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) stands behind bush opening mouth, Segera, Laikipia, Kenya

Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) stands on dam turning head towards the camera, Segera, Laikipia, Kenya

Three Southern giraffes (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) walk along sandy track in Chobe National Park, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) sits watching camera on sunlit rock, Kenya

Leopard (Panthera pardus) walking across sloping rockface in sunshine, Laikipia, Kenya

Close-up of a Lioness (Panthera leo) walking through the low bushes in sunshine, Laikipia, Kenya

Portrait of a male lion (Panthera leo) standing among bushes, looking mournful at the camera, Laikipia, Kenya

Close-up of a young lion (Panthera leo) sitting in the grass, turning head, Laikipia, Kenya

Portrait of a young, male lion (Panthera leo) standing on savanna, staring at the camera, licking his lips, Laikipia, Kenya

Male lion and lioness (Panthera leo) stand by kill in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lioness (Panthera leo) lies watching camera by tree trunk in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Male lion (Panthera leo) standing on rock looking around in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) walks among others in shallows in sunshine in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Two lions (Panthera leo) stand on rock beside trees in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Panorama of two lionesses (Panthera leo) lying on rock in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Polar bears (Ursus maritimes) walking on the snow, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Leopard (Panthera pardus) lies in long grass looking right in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Close-up portrait of a young male lion (Panthera leo leo) lowering head, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa

Three caribou (Rangifer tarandus) walk by oil storage tanks near Prudhoe Bay and the Point Lonely Short Range Radar Site, where the Central Arctic herd migrates north each summer, Alaska, United States of America

Three lions (Panthera leo) stand on kopje near trees in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) walking in shallows in sunshine in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Polar bear (Ursus maritimes) lying down in the snow, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Panorama of hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) pod in shallow river in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Panorama of hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) lying on sandy riverbank in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Portrait of a polar bear (Ursus maritimes) standing in the snow looking at the camera, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada

Leopard (Panthera pardus) lies under shady rock near bushes in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Leopard (Panthera pardus) lies under shady rock opening mouth in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Lioness (Panthera leo) lies crouching on rock watching camera in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Young male lion (Panthera leo) lies on burnt savannah in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Baby Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Eating Grass With Trunk Raised, Botswana

Close-up of Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) gazing at camera, Segera, Laikipia, Kenya