National Geographic's 2025 Pictures of the Year: 7 Wildlife Photos That Capture Crisis and Hope

National Geographic's December 2025 issue presents its annual Pictures of the Year, a curated selection of 25 standout images chosen from hundreds of thousands of photographs taken by its photographers during 2025. The portfolio highlights fragile ecosystems, endangered species, and a few hopeful conservation successes that illustrate both the peril and resilience of nature.

"Individually, these photographs speak to beauty, fragility, and wonder," National Geographic editor in chief Nathan Lump said. "Taken together, I see a collective sense of urgency — a call to preserve what's in danger of being lost, as well as a reminder of the poetic beauty to be found in carrying on, in daring to dream of a better future."

Seven Standout Wildlife Images

Roie Galitz — Polar Bear in Svalbard

Roie Galitz captured a dramatic aerial image in Svalbard, Norway, of a polar bear digging into the floating carcass of a sperm whale. Galitz—leading a photography expedition—used a drone to achieve the top-down perspective. He noted the scene's unpredictability in the Arctic: a moment that may vanish the next day.

Fernando Faciole — Jaguar in Rio Doce State Park

Fernando Faciole photographed one of the few remaining jaguars in Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil. National Geographic estimates fewer than a dozen jaguars remain in the park, a decline tied largely to deforestation and habitat loss.

Brian Skerry — Great White Off Maine

Brian Skerry photographed a 10-foot great white shark off the coast of Maine, getting an unusually close view. Scientists and local observers have reported increasing shark sightings in the region, linked in part to recovering seal populations following protections such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Karine Aigner — Sunflower Chimney Bee in Davis, California

Karine Aigner's intimate image shows a sunflower chimney bee resting inside a flower in Davis, California. Aigner said on Instagram she was "absolutely thrilled that native bees are getting the limelight they deserve," underscoring growing attention to native pollinator conservation.

Marcus Westberg — Antelope Migration in South Sudan

Using a drone, Marcus Westberg photographed an immense sweep of antelope migrating across South Sudan. A 2024 study by African Parks and the University of Juba estimated roughly 6 million antelope took part in what researchers called the largest land migration on Earth.

Stephen Wilkes — Day-to-Night Composites in Botswana and Canada

Stephen Wilkes, known for layering hundreds of images taken over 18–36 hours into a single composite, used his technique to document a drought-stricken watering hole in Botswana's Okavango Delta. The composite captures animals that were "thirsty, hot, and stressed." Wilkes also applied his signature "Day to Night" method to photograph Steller sea lions in Canada's Malaspina Strait. The Vancouver Aquarium cites the IUCN classification of Steller sea lions as "near threatened," though federal protections have helped populations rebound in some areas.

Taken together, these photographs map both the fragility and the resilience of wildlife in a changing world. View the full Pictures of the Year gallery on National Geographic's website to see all 25 images and the stories behind them.