Unbelievable Pictures Of Wildlife From The National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

A family of snow monkeys cuddling up together for security and warmth.

"A family of snow monkeys cuddling up together for security and warmth.  They appeared very protective of one another and seemed unsure of my presence."

A surprise companion, the Pacific Tree Frog, lurking in the lichen.

 

"A surprise companion, the Pacific Tree Frog, lurking in the lichen."

A wild parrot perched near a cafe outside of Aquas Calientes in the Cuzco region of Peru.

"A cafe outside of Aquas Calientes in the Cuzco region of Peru has perches for wild parrots that come and feed on seed and fruit left out for them. This curious little fella was peeking out from behind a leaf to get a better look at me. Apparently he was entertained by the odd human with the camera because he let me get only a few inches away, where my ring light could better illuminate his beautiful feathers."

Alligator hanging out in a pond in South Carolina.

 

"This photograph was taken while I was on vacation in South Carolina. It was a rainy miserable day until I happened uppon this alligator hanging out in a local pond."

 An alligator and turtles together in a pond.

"I have seen alligators and turtles together in ponds before, but never like this! I was at Bluebill Pond in Harris Neck NWR when I saw what I thought was an alligator sunning itself on a stump. As I got closer I realized that it was actually perched on the back of a turtle!  I wish I had been there to witness how this surprising esprit de corps had came to pass!"

Big Major Cay's pigs swimming in the clear, turquoise waters of the Bahamas.

 

"This is one of the Big Major Cay's pigs swimming in the clear, turquoise waters of the Bahamas. Pigs are great swimmers!"

Leopard looking out in South Africa.

"Our first morning game drive on Safari in South Africa brought us this magnificent leopard.  He was bathed in the orange hues of the sunrise and it was breathtaking."

Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the Sabinyo family, plays in the bamboo forest of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

 

"A two year old Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) of the Sabinyo family, plays in the bamboo forest of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. In 1981, this population fell to 240 because of rampent poaching and habitat loss.  Today the population is estimated to be around 800 and rising and this photograph represents the exciting turn around and hope for the next generation. Thank you to the conservationists, rangers and educators working to protect these magnificent cousins of ours and their habitat in the Virunga massif."

Osprey taking off from his perch.

"I clicked this photo as the Osprey was taking off from his perch."

Sea Lion on Pacific Coast of Oregon.

 

"Sea Lion on Pacific Coast of Oregon"

The hummingbird and the flower

 

"Picture took on march 27 with a Nikon D90 + zoom 80-400 mm - 400 mm - ISO 800 - 1/3200 sec - f 7.1."

Two newly hatched Gentoo Penguin chicks get their first glimpse at the Antarctic wilderness.

"Two newly hatched Gentoo Penguin chicks get their first glimpse at the Antarctic wilderness."

Two vultures in action from massai mara in kenya while they are fighting.

 

"Two vultures in action from massai mara in kenya while they are fighting."

Two zebras in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

 

"This picture was taken on a game drive in the Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest national park in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The park contains a wide diversity of fauna, flora and landscapes and incorporates semi arid landscapes all the way to a marine reserve. These zebra were so calm and you just got the feeling they wanted to be photographed!"

Whaleshark encounter in the Bohol Sea, Philippines.

 

"Whaleshark encounter in the Bohol Sea, Philippines."