In pictures: finalists for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015



September 2, 2015
Two large lizards, possibly Komodo dragons, engage in a wrestling match on a grassy hill.

Wrestling Komodo dragons, a gorilla looking on as her companion is being medically treated, snow-pounding rabbits are among the scenes captured on camera by this year's finalists for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015. The exhibition opens on 16 October at the Natural History Museum in London.Komodo Judo by Andrey GudkovRUSSIAFinalist, Amphibians & ReptilesTwo large male Komodo dragons hissing angrily at each other in Indonesia’s Komodo national park. Komodo dragons can grow up to 8ft tallPhotograph: Andrey Gudkov

Four people in masks and protective gear examine a gorilla lying on the floor.

Gorilla care by Marcus WestbergSWEDENFinalist, Photojournalism award: single imageNdeze, a nine-year-old orphan mountain gorilla, watches with concern as veterinarians check the health of her female companion, 12-year-old Maisha, in the Senkwekwe centre at Virunga national park, in the Democratic Republic of the CongoPhotograph: Marcus Westberg

Person swimming underwater with a shark, both in silhouette against blue water.

The shark surfer by Thomas P PeschakGERMANY/SOUTH AFRICAFinalist, Photojournalism award: single imageMany sharks are found at Aliwal Shoal near Durban, South Africa, making it the perfect environment to test a prototype surfboard with an electromagnetic shark deterrentPhotograph: Thomas P Peschak

Snowy mountain landscape with a bird perched on a tree.

Jagged peace by Floris van BreugelUSAFinalist, LandA small bird (Gaucho Serrano) contemplates the enormity of Fitz Roy, in Patagonia, in Argentina’s Los Glaciares national park that boasts the largest ice mantle outside AntarcticaPhotograph: Floris van Breugel

A large flock of white birds, possibly cranes, gathered in a body of water with some taking off in flight.

Great egret awakening by Zsolt KudichHUNGARYFinalist, BirdsWhen the River Danube flooded into Hungary’s Gemenc forest, more than a thousand great egrets flocked to the lake to feed on the stranded amphibians, fish and invertebratesPhotograph: Zsolt Kudich/Zsolt Kudich

Squirrel and bird at a water bowl, both looking at each other.

To drink or not by Carlos Perez NavalSPAINFinalist, 10 Years and UnderA California ground squirrel comes face-to-face with a gull on the beach at Morro Bay in CaliforniaPhotograph: Carlos Perez Naval

A hare with snow-covered fur and large ears runs through a snowy landscape.

Snow hare by Rosamund MacfarlaneUKFinalist, MammalsA hare gets its pelt coated in snow in the Scottish Cairngorms, ScotlandPhotograph: Rosamund Macfarlane

Four storks perched on a red car atop a tower at dusk.

Stork art by Francisco MingoranceSPAINFinalist, Urban WildlifeWhite storks nesting on a sculpture outside the Vostell-Malpartida Museum near Cáceres in SpainPhotograph: Francisco Mingorance

Transparent octopus with orange spots and tendrils floating in dark water.

It came from the deep by Fabien MichenetFRANCEFinalist, UnderwaterA juvenile octopus, measuring about 2cm across, swims in the deep water off the coast of Tahiti, French Polynesia. Its transparent body reveals internal organs and chromatophores (colourchanging cells) on its tentaclesPhotograph: Fabien Michenet/fmichenet@yahoo.

Black and white photo of a young elephant under an adult elephant's belly with zebras and a giraffe in the background.

Natural frame by Morkel ErasmusSOUTH AFRICAFinalist, Black & WhiteElephants, zebras and giraffes captured at a waterhole in Namibia’s Etosha national parkPhotograph: Morkel Erasmus

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