The winners of the World Nature Photography Awards 2021 are here and the photos are amazing

The annual World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA) just announced the 2021 winners and the photos are amazing.

Amos Nachum of the United States received the top honor and cash prize of US$1,000 for his depiction of a leopard seal preparing to capture a defenseless gentoo penguin.

Nahum waited patiently for hours on the remote island of Plano, off the Antarctic Peninsula, for the right moment at low tide when seals secretly enter the lagoon and search for their prey.

All 14 categories featured images that capture the beauty of our planet.

As humanity's relationship with the Earth gradually becomes protection rather than robbery, the contest organizers believe photography can draw attention to the majesty and wonders of the natural world, reminding us to act now to ensure a better tomorrow for all. And when you scroll through the judges' favorites, it's impossible not to agree.

12 PHOTOS

1. Portraits of animals, bronze: Amit Eshel, Israel.

2. Black and white, gold: Vince Burton, UK.

3. Behavior of amphibians and reptiles, silver: Massimo Giorgetta, Italy.

4. Mammal Behavior, Gold Medalist and Grand Prize: Amos Nachum, USA.

5. Urban Wildlife Silver: Mohammad Murad, Kuwait

6. Invertebrate Behavior, Gold: Chin Leong Teo, Singapore.

7. "Animals in their habitat", gold: Thomas Vijayan, Canada.

8. Portraits of animals, silver: Nilutpaul Barua, India.

9. Behavior of Mammals, Bronze: Buddhilini De Soyza, Australia.

10. Behavior of Amphibians and Reptiles, Gold: Shane Kay, Canada.

11. Animal Portraits, Gold: Tom Vierus, Fiji

12 Mammal Behavior Silver: William Fortescue, UK.