This week's best wildlife photographs feature Neil the elephant seal in Tasmania, a rare pink grasshopper in Somerset, and award-winning Andean condors in Patagonia. The collection includes images from around the world, highlighting unique animal behaviors and conservation moments.
Neil the Seal Makes Himself at Home in Tasmania
Neil, a five-year-old elephant seal weighing 1,000kg, continues to charm locals in southern Tasmania, Australia. Known for picking fights with bollards and playfully crushing fences, he has become a local legend. Senator Jacqui Lambie remarked: "He is the only bloke in Tasmania who can stop traffic, ignore everyone, and still be loved for it."
Rare Pink Grasshopper Spotted in Somerset
Six rare reddish grasshoppers were spotted in a back garden in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, UK. Meadow grasshoppers are common across the UK but are usually green or brown. These insects carry a rare condition called erythrism, a genetic mutation similar to albinism, causing an overproduction of red pigment.
Kingfishers Engage in Beak Swordfight
In Staffordshire, UK, kingfishers were photographed battling for a prime fishing spot in a dramatic beak "swordfight." The image captures the intensity of territorial disputes among these vibrant birds.
Andean Condors Win Top Photo Prize
Mauricio Rossanigo's photograph "For a Lifetime," depicting two Andean condors grooming each other, won the top prize at the Patagonia photo contest 2026. Rossanigo said: "The pair arrived, and the magic happened: they started grooming and interacting in such a beautiful way that we couldn't believe it."
Atlantic Ghost Crab and Keel-Billed Toucan
An Atlantic ghost crab, named for its pale coloring and nocturnal habits, was seen scurrying back to its burrow in the Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Meanwhile, a keel-billed toucan landed on a tree near Boca Tapada in Costa Rica. Despite its large bill, it is surprisingly lightweight due to its hollow bone structure.
Pelicans Successfully Breed in London's St James's Park
For the first time in history, great white pelicans have successfully bred at St James's Park in London. A resident pelican was seen caring for its baby at the secluded nesting site. Six great white pelicans live in the park.
Jumping Spider and Semi-Wild Horses in Spain
A jumping spider was photographed in a garden in Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka. In Spain, semi-wild horses were driven to Almonte for the Saca de las Yeguas ritual, where mares and foals are blessed, counted, and possibly sold before returning to marshlands.
Butterfly, Sparrow Chick, and Macaque
A common yellow swallowtail butterfly fed on a flower in Chisseaux, France. A one-week-old sparrow chick that left the nest too soon due to hot weather was fed by a veterinarian in Wehrheim, Germany. A macaque splashed in water at the Nanwan nature reserve on Hainan island, China, home to about 1,600 macaques.
Caucasian Agama and Stork Family
A Caucasian agama basked in the sun in Iğdır, Turkey. A stork family stood guard in their nest outside Frankfurt, Germany.
Honey Bee, Hermit Crab, and Aphids
A honey bee sucked nectar from lavender in Anantnag, Kashmir, where lavender cultivation offers farmers a sustainable alternative. A hermit crab off Karaburun, Turkey, chose a shell covered with marine organisms. Oleander aphids clustered on a swallow-wort plant in Sangju, South Korea, feeding by piercing tender tissue.
Elk and Sea Anemone
A drone photo captured elk at a national nature reserve in Shishou, central China. A sea anemone was photographed on the seabed at Karathona beach near Nafplio, Greece.
Little Owl at Abandoned Quarry
A little owl was spotted at an abandoned quarry in Eskişehir, Turkey, which has become a safe breeding site for many bird species. Soil cavities formed over time on arid slopes and expanded by birds host rare migratory species.
