'This fragile planet': These beautiful photos are the winners of the World Nature Photography Awards

The winners of the 2025 World Nature Photography Awards have just been revealed with the top prize going to a stunning image of deer running through a snow-covered vineyard in Slovenia.

The competition received thousands of entries from 48 countries across six continents.

"As always, it's such a thrill to witness the amazing calibre of entries into the awards," says Adrian Dinsdale, co-founder of the WNPAs.

"Seeing all these images cannot fail to motivate one to do everything to protect this fragile planet of ours."

Award-winning entries include a volcanic eruption engulfing a snow-covered landscape, a polar bear retrieving a stick, and firework-like plants at sunset.

Run by Maruša Puhek: Overall winner

The top award and cash prize of $1000 (€952) was given to Maruša Puhek for her aerial image of a pair of deer sprinting through a snowy vineyard in Murščak, Slovenia.

"I'm still in shock," she said, "This win means the world to me."

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity and it came at exactly the right time in my life."

Enchanted Duo by Khaichuin Sim

Malaysian photographer Khaichuin Sim's image of lanternflies in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia took the gold prize in the 'Animal Portraits' category.

Mudskipping by Georgina Steytler

In the 'Behaviour - Amphibians and reptiles' category, Australian photographer Georgina Steytler claimed the gold prize with an image of a blue-spotted mudskipper taken in Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia.

Red Knots by Clive Burns

Gold prize in the 'Behaviour - Birds' category went to British photographer Clive Burns who captured this flock of red knots in Snettisham, Norfolk, England.

Fuelling Resilience by Benjamin Smail

In the 'Urban wildlife' category, British photographer Benjamin Smail's photo of a male pin-tailed whydah sitting on barbed wire in Mandinari, Gambia won the gold prize.

Powerless by Niki Colemont

A robber fly wrapped up in a spider's web in Belgium is the subject of the gold prize prize winning photo in the 'Behaviour - Invertebrates' category.

It was taken by Belgian photographer Niki Colemont.

Five-star meal by Paul Goldstein

Five cheetahs feed on the carcass of a young hartebeest in Olare Conservancy, Kenya in British photographer Paul Goldstein's gold prize-winning image. It took first place in the 'Black and white' category.

Polar Retriever by Tom Nickels

Tom Nickels was travelling through the Svalbard archipelago when the photographer found three polar bears feeding on dolphin carcasses.

One of the bears started to play with a stick, fetching it like a dog. This photo won the gold prize in the 'Behaviour - Mammals' category.

Lenuk Tasi by Daniel Flormann

This photo of an olive ridley sea turtle swimming near the surface of Kasait, Timor Leste won gold prize in the 'Underwater' category. It was taken by German photographer Daniel Flormann.

Svalbard by Malini Chandrasekar

British photographer Malini Chandrasekar's image of a Walrus sitting on a chunk of ice in Svalbard, Norway won gold prize in the 'Animals in their habitat' category.

Reclaim by Ael Kermarec

In Ael Kermarec's gold prize-winning photo from the 'Nature photojournalism' category, a volcanic eruption engulfs a snow-covered landscape and a main road on the Reykjanes peninsula, Svartsengi, Reykjanes, Iceland.

The Lily Pad by Robert Middleton

This aerial show of fishermen harvesting anchovies in Phu Yen, Vietnam won British photographer Robert Middleton the gold prize in the 'People and Nature' category.

Twilight by Jake Mosher

This photo won the gold prize in the 'Planet Earth's landscapes and environments' category.

US photographer Jake Mosher's image shows an aurora and the Milky Way visible in the sky over Hyalite Lake in Montana, US.

Fireworks by Marcio Esteves Cabral

Gold prize in the 'Plants and fungi' category went to Brazilian photographer Marcio Esteves Cabral.

The image captures paepalanthus plants glowing during sunset at Veadeiros Tablelands in Brazil.

With the winners of the 2025 competition announced, the team has now officially opened the call for entries for 2026. Many of the images from this year's competition can be purchased as wall art in the WNPA online store.