Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 13 thought-provoking photos that explore the wonders of nature

From whales seeking a human's touch to birds seeking a cooling drink, the Natural History Museum's upcoming exhibit is an emotive visual journey

Credit: Thomas P. Peschak/www.thomaspeschak.com

'Touching Trust' by Thomas P Peschak, from Germany/South Africa. Highly Commended in the Wildlife Photojournalism category. This shot, which was Highly Commended, shows a curious young grey whale approaching a pair of hands reaching down from a tourist boat. In San Ignacio Lagoon, on the coast of Mexico’s Baja California, baby grey whales and their mothers actively seek contact with people for a head scratch or back rub. Courtesy Thomas P Peschak / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Emma Day

Sep 10, 2019

The natural world provides some of life's most curious, surprising and miraculous moments.

And such visual experiences are captured in the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, developed and produced by London's Natural History Museum.

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Now in its 55th year, the event brings together some of the most wondrous and emotive imagery taken from around the world, that highlights the diversity of, and some of the dangers facing, the planet's many species.

Whether it's displaying intriguing animal behaviour, exploring environmental crisis or capturing some of Earth's most glorious landscapes, the competition is known for showcasing some incredible work.

Scroll through the gallery above to see 13 images that are Highly Commended in this year's competition.

Nearly 50,000 entries were received for the 2019 iteration, with panel of international experts selecting 100 photographs to be displayed in the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, which will launch on Friday, October 19.