This week's collection of the finest wildlife photographs from across the globe captures a diverse array of animals in their natural habitats. From a hungry hoopoe in Turkey to a hot crocodile in Sri Lanka, these images showcase the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Hoopoes and Cygnets
In Bursa, Turkey, a hoopoe was captured delivering food to its chick, marking the eighth consecutive year this bird has returned to the same nesting site. Meanwhile, in Dawlish, Devon, UK, a cygnet enjoyed a ride along Dawlish Water as the town's famous dark swans introduced their latest brood.
Sea Otter and Frogs
In Pacific Grove, California, a sea otter tucked her pup in for a nap, creating a heartwarming scene. In the Kathmandu valley, Nepal, a Pierre's wart frog defied the old adage that frogs have smooth skin while toads are bumpy, showcasing its unique texture.
Insects and Reptiles
A hoverfly was seen on a flower in Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. In Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, a mugger crocodile kept its mouth open to stay cool, as temperatures above 38°C could prove fatal. Gulls fed on pearl mullet in a river in Van, Turkey.
Mammals and Birds
Sika deer foraged in the rain at a nature reserve in Qiqihar, northeast China. Rare video footage captured a ringtail, a nocturnal and elusive mammal, in Oregon, US. An endangered loggerhead sea turtle laid eggs on the beach near Antalya, Turkey. Egret chicks waited in their nest in Gimcheon, South Korea. A grasshopper rested in a garden in Assam, India. An elephant tried its luck with drivers on a road bordering Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. A red fox cub emerged from its den with its mother in Kars, Turkey. Dolphins swam in the waters around Istanbul, Turkey, as researchers observed them for a study. Buffalo swam in Erzurum, Turkey, taking advantage of recent rains.
Bats and Rhinos
A fruit bat flew near a gold mine in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where bat populations are linked to Ebola outbreaks. Male and female damselflies courted during mating in Moreton, Essex, UK. A pair of one-horned rhinoceroses grazed in Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India.
