An elephant herd takes some respite from the scorching heat and dry winds. A dust bath is their favorite way to beat the heat and keep the mosquitoes and other blood suckers at bay. The entire herd rests and rejuvenates together before resuming their colossal grazing.
An elephant herd takes some respite from the scorching heat and dry winds. A dust bath is their favorite way to beat the heat and keep the mosquitoes and other blood suckers at bay. The entire herd rests and rejuvenates together before resuming their colossal grazing.
Photograph and caption by NILESH SHAH, 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest

24 stunning wildlife pictures from the Nat Geo photo contest

From leopards on the hunt to whales beneath the sea—see our editor's favorite photos submitted so far.

Captions were written and submitted by the photographers.

From the edges of isolated jungles to well-traversed national parks, photographers travel the globe looking to capture the beauty—and challenges—wildlife face in our modern world. Urban spaces sometimes converge with natural habitats; the changing climate continues to shape the world around us; and stunning protected areas capture our imaginations.

The 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest seeks compelling visions of wildlife, places, and people, and invites photographers to submit their best pictures. Our editors can’t keep these amazing photos all to themselves—so explore this gallery of some of the top wildlife entries so far—and wait to see what is yet to come.

Think you have the winning photo? Be sure to enter before November 15 at 12pm EST. Submit for a chance to win up to $7,500.

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