This week's collection of global wildlife photography offers a breathtaking glimpse into the lives of animals across the planet, from moments of serene relaxation to critical conservation milestones. The images, captured by photographers and agencies worldwide, highlight both the beauty of the natural world and the pressing challenges it faces.
Moments of Serenity and Survival
In a striking scene from northern Japan, Japanese macaques were photographed bathing in a steaming hot spring, their fur dusted with snow at the Hakodate tropical botanical garden in Hokkaido. This iconic image of resilience in a harsh climate contrasts with a quieter moment in Rio de Janeiro, where a capybara pup was captured stretching and yawning after a nap along the mangrove-fringed Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon.
The theme of survival continued in Turkey, where a brilliantly camouflaged little owl perched almost invisibly among rocky terrain in Diyarbakır. Meanwhile, in the wetlands of Delray Beach, Florida, an anhinga demonstrated its expert hunting skills, spearing a fish with its sharp bill.
Conservation Hope and Heartbreak
A significant story of hope emerged from New Zealand, where the world's heaviest parrot, the critically endangered kākāpō, has begun breeding for the first time in four years. On Codfish Island, a male was photographed sitting on a tree, with conservationists hopeful that a bumper crop of native rimu berries will lead to a record number of chicks, boosting the tiny population.
In Indonesia, a major conservation effort saw three Bornean orangutans – Badul, Korwas, and Asoka – released into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya national park. Their journeys to freedom were long: Badul required eight years of forest school after too much time in human society, Korwas was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, and Asoka was rehabilitated for ten years after being rescued as an infant.
Tragically, in south-east Australia, a severe heatwave led to the largest mass mortality event for grey-headed flying foxes since the "Black Summer" of 2019-20, with thousands perishing. A poignant image showed a mother flying fox with her pup.
British Wildlife and Global Scenes
Closer to home, a captivating image from near Corwen in north Wales, UK, showed a fox emerging from its underground den into a world blanketed in snow. In West Sussex, a beaver on the Knepp estate symbolised the success of rewilding, with bird numbers on the project having increased tenfold over two decades. Another UK scene featured a kingfisher enjoying a snack on a river near Dover, Kent.
Elsewhere, wild deer strolled peacefully at the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan, and another deer walked through a snow-dusted forest near Frankfurt, Germany. In Hungary, a drone photo captured swans moving across the frozen expanse of Lake Balaton during a cold snap.
In Kenya, an elephant kept a watchful eye on young ones in Amboseli national park, underscoring the continent's complex elephant crisis where some nations are losing their last to poachers while others grapple with overpopulation. A positive note came from Colombia, where environmental authorities released 47 wild animals, including turtles, alligators, and boas, back into the wild in Buenaventura after rescuing them from illegal trafficking.
A Glimpse of Animal Behaviour
The series also captured intimate animal behaviours. In Florida, a male great blue heron was photographed passing nesting material to his mate as they built their nest. In Poland, swans and ducks fed on grain left by residents on the snow-covered banks of the Vistula river near Krakow, while in Ankara, Turkey, a squirrel foraged during a light snowfall.
These powerful images, compiled on Friday 16 January 2026, serve as a weekly testament to the diversity, fragility, and enduring wonder of wildlife across the globe.
