This week's wildlife photography roundup features stunning images from around the globe, including a stag cooling off in a stream in Richmond Park, southwest London, captured by Alex Lentati. The image highlights the extreme heat weather warning issued by the Met Office.
Levitating Penguin and Tiny Frog
Mat Bell’s photograph of an Adélie penguin propelling itself from icy Antarctic waters onto an iceberg is shortlisted for the Australian Geographic nature photographer of the year 2026. Bell described waiting patiently in a Zodiac boat, capturing the penguin in an "almost levitational-like state." In South Korea, a small frog sits on a lotus leaf near a pond in Sangju, photographed by Seung-il Ryu.
Rescued Howler Monkey and Desert Ghost
A tiny infant howler monkey named Elsa was found clinging to her mother, who had been electrocuted in Costa Rica. Now under care at International Animal Rescue, she remains under close supervision. In Libya, wildlife photographer Mohammed Almuntasir documented the elusive sand cat, known as the "ghost of the desert," after eight years of research in a remote valley. The cat has now been recorded at 13 sites.
Dragonflies and Dartmoor Ponies
In Dunsden, UK, dragonflies dip their bodies into water to cool off, similar to humans. On Dartmoor, a pony and foal graze at Hound Tor amid a dispute between Natural England and farmers over grazing contracts. Critics claim the rules could reduce the semi-wild pony population by up to 90%, though Natural England denies ordering a cull, stating pony grazing is vital for ecological recovery.
Marsh Rabbit and African Wildlife
A marsh rabbit nibbles cat greenbriar leaves on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. In Tanzania's Mikumi National Park, a hippopotamus wallows in the Mkata floodplain, which also hosts giraffes, elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, eland, zebra, lions, and 400 bird species.
Bees, Orangutans, and Clownfish
A bee gathers nectar from lavender in Valensole, France. In Indonesia, a two-year-old orangutan named Randy, rescued from illegal captivity, is cared for by foster mother Siponti at the Yiari rehabilitation centre as part of a surrogacy programme. A clownfish shelters among sea anemone tentacles near Sipadan Island, Malaysia.
Kestrels, Fox Cubs, and Bird Flu
At a rehabilitation centre in Belgium, a staff member feeds kestrels during a heatwave. Red fox cubs emerge from their den in Kars, Turkey. In Australia, a northern giant petrel tested positive for H5N1 bird flu at the Esperance Wildlife Hospital, raising concerns as the continent had been untouched by the virus.
Water Buffalo and Tiny Creatures
Water buffalo graze and cool off in Turkey's Eber Lake basin, revitalized by recent rainfall after drought. A ladybird crawls on grain in Frankfurt, Germany, and a red squirrel searches for pinecones in Kars, Turkey. Beetles work on a leaf in Sangju, South Korea, and a mallard duckling walks in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
