Conservation

Most of us are familiar with the vest-clad beagle that hunts for illegal fruits and plants in the travelers' luggage at airports. Now, a species of giant pouched rat has been trained to fulfill a similar role in finding illegal wildlife products.

At a time when we could do with a laugh, we present a pick of images that have made the shortlist in the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. From clumsy birds to dramatic insects, these photos capture moments that happen often but we rarely get to see.

The first-ever video of a blue whale nursing her calf has been released, as well as stunning footage of the species' intimate interactions. It's the first time these famously elusive animals have had their personal lives captured in this way.

No-one has seen the Yellow-crested Helmetshrike for about 20 years. That changed when researchers embarked on a six-week expedition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and captured the dramatic-looking yellow-topped bird in its first-known photo.

As Australian as kangaroos, the Christmas beetle holds a special place in hearts Down Under. But December sightings of these majestic creatures have become as rare as seeing Santa. Scientists are now asking the nation to help them find out what's going on.

The eggplant emoji may be more famous in the digital world than in real life, but it's not the case for most organisms. Biologists have made the case for 'animal underdogs' to have better emoji presence to aid real-life conservation and biodiversity.

A team of conservationists have rediscovered a species of golden mole that hasn’t been seen in almost 90 years. The scientists tracked it to its home in the sand dunes of South Africa using environmental DNA (eDNA) and sniffer dogs.

A kangaroo riffing on his air guitar, a sentient snowball, a face-planting seabird, a comically depressed owl and a twinkle-toed otter are among the funny, candid images that shone brightest in this much-loved, feel-good wildlife photography contest.

Genitalia in the animal kingdom is rarely dull, from penis 'sword' fighting flatworms, to echidnas with four-headed phalluses. Let us introduce a new odd member contender: a beetle with an appendage that looks like you could crack open a beer with it.

With spines like a hedgehog, feet like a mole and snout like an anteater, this bizarre animal is hard to miss. Yet it has been missing, presumed extinct since 1961 – that was until it had the audacity to saunter past a well-placed research camera.

Camera drones have made aerial photography way more accessible, but … what if there isn't much to look at where you live? That's where the NatureEye service comes in, as it allows you to remotely pilot a drone at conservation areas around the world.

It's one of the biggest and most treasured photography contests on the planet, and this year attracted a massive 49,957 entries. But there could be only a handful of winners. We present the standouts, offering a rare glimpse into the natural world.