Every year, photographers from around the world share incredible images on Wikimedia Commons, capturing the beauty and diversity of life on Earth. The Picture of the Year 2025 marks the 20th edition of this annual competition, celebrating some of the best contributions from the global community.
This year, animal photography once again stands out, with powerful images that go beyond aesthetics to tell stories about the natural world. From intimate moments to dramatic scenes in the wild, these photos highlight just how fascinating and fragile life on our planet can be.
We’ve selected 30 of the most striking animal photos that could take the title this year. Scroll down to explore them and see which one deserves your vote.
More info: commons.wikimedia.org
#2 Baby Cape Fur Seal Sleeping At Cape Cross, Namibia
Image by Giles Laurent
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21points
#3 Proboscis Bats (Rhynchonycteris Naso), Also Referred To As The Brazilian Long-Nosed, River, And Sharp-Nosed Bat
Image by Rhododendrites
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20points
#4 Two Red Panda Cubs Perched In A Tree, Gazing Down In Mangingoth, Langtang National Park, Nepal
Image by Ganga Raj Sunuwar
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19points
#5 Indian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone Paradisi)
Image by Kaim Amin.
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19points
#6 The Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias Thalassinus)
Image by Sanjoykumar99
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17points
#7 African Blue Flycatcher (Elminia Longicauda) At Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda
Image by Giles Laurent
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17points
#8 A Tufted Gray Langur (Semnopithecus Priam) Stroking A Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa Macroura) Caringly At Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Image by Senthi Aathavan Senthilverl
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16points
#9 Siberian Tiger In Duisburg Zoo Taking A Bath In A Pond
Image by Tuxyso
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16points
#10 Barn Swallow In A Dancing Pose After Taking A Quick Dip In The Nagdaha Lake, Lalitpur District, Bagmati Province, Nepal
Image by Prasan Shrestha
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16points
#11 Golden Mantled Howler Monkey And Baby (Alouatta Palliata Palliata)
Image by Rhododendrites
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15points
#12 The Calico Cat Is A Domestic Cat With A Tricolor Coat Composed Predominantly Of White With Large Orange And Black Spots
Image by Terragio67
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14points
#13 Night At Hale, Hampshire, England. I Think This Badger Turned Up After A Swim
Image by Andy Morffew
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14points
#14 Desert-Adapted Elephant Dust-Bathing In Damaraland, Namibia
Image by Giles Laurent
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14points
#16 Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus Verreauxi) Near Réserve Peyrieras, Madagascar
Image by Charlesjsharp
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13points
#17 Indian Flying Fox In Keoladeo National Park, India
Image by Giles Laurent
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13points
#19 Humpback Whale Breaching In Ballena Marine National Park, Costa Rica
The reasons why whales practice breaching are still unknown today. Some hypotheses, among others, are that breaching is done in order to either communicate, court, assert dominance, warn of danger, remove parasites from the skin, or play.
Image by Giles Laurent
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12points
