Polar bear riding enormous frozen whale among National Geographic's best photos of 2025
Polar bear riding enormous frozen whale among National Geographic's best photos of 2025
Six million marauding antelope and a close encounter with a deadly shark also feature in National Geographic's Pictures of the Year.
A sperm whale floats amid shards of polar pack ice, dead and decomposing, mouth hanging open. When photographer Roie Galitz captured the scene with a drone, the image was so arresting that it took a moment to notice the hungry female polar bear stretching her jaw to break through the whale's leathery skin. Galitz was leading a photography expedition along Norway's Svalbard archipelago when he spotted a blackened blob floating on the horizon. As the icebreaker drew close, he could see (and smell) that the blob was a massive decaying carcass releasing an occasional exhalation of noxious gas, "like a big air cushion." The encounter raised a curious question: What was a sperm whale doing here? The species prefers temperate climes, but as Arctic waters warm, some whales are moving beyond their traditional range. Strong currents and winds might also have pushed it north, a happy surprise for both Galitz and the bear, which worked hard for the feast. "You can see she's trying to get in and get through, but the hide is just so thick." (Photo by Roie Galitz)
National Geographic has revealed a stunning selection of wildlife images that they feel most defines the past year.
From an incredible drone photo of the world's largest land animal migration to a deadly shark captured just off the coast of mainland USA, the images are thought-provoking and powerful.
All 25 photos feature in the December 2025 issue of the National Geographic magazine. You can also view them online atnatgeo.com/photos.
National Geographic's Pictures of the Year
While monitoring the burrow of a rare giant armadillo in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, photographer Fernando Faciole came face-to-lens with a different vulnerable animal: the jaguar. Severe deforestation has decimated the population here, and today, fewer than a dozen jaguars may remain in the state park where this image was taken. Photo by Fernando FacioleA sunflower chimney bee (Diadasia enavata) rests on a pillow of velvety ochers in the early evening, likely already snoozing after a long day’s work pollinating plants. This species of bee often nests at the base of sunflowers, moving with commercial farmers as they rotate their crops. Photo by Karine AignerPhotographer Brian Skerry has been chronicling marine life for decades, but this image represents his first encounter with a great white shark in the Gulf of Maine, USA – a place he did not expect to meet one. Sightings of sharks are increasing from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, perhaps due in part to changing climate patterns. Photo by Brian SkerryA long-awaited aerial wildlife survey released by South Sudan revealed something extraordinary. An estimated six million antelopes were documented traversing the eastern plains of the country, changing our understanding of how many animals move across this part of Africa. Photographer Marcus Westberg used a drone to record the phenomenon, the planet’s largest land migration, calling it a 'symbol of hope' for a region that has experienced years of civil unrest. Photo by Marcus WestbergA sperm whale floats amid shards of polar pack ice, dead and decomposing, mouth hanging open. When photographer Roie Galitz captured the scene with a drone, the image was so arresting that it took a moment to notice the hungry female polar bear sat atop the whale, stretching her jaw to break through the whale's leathery skin. Photo by Roie Galitz
Group visual editor for BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile and BBC Science Focus
James Cutmore is the Group Visual Editor from BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile and BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked as a picture editor for over two decades, telling compelling science and nature stories through the use of striking imagery.
