National Geographic (Nat Geo) has recently unveiled the most impressive moments of nature captured through the lens of a camera in 2024.
A young Emperor Penguin jumps off a 50-foot cliff, ready for its first foraging season. According to Nat Geo, this species typically breeds on low sea ice shelves; however, they are now found on higher ice shelves. This behavior demonstrates how penguin habits have changed due to climate change. (Photo: Bertie Gregory).
The Frio Bat Cave in southern Texas serves as a spring and summer home to approximately 10 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Near dusk, the bats emerge in streams to hunt for food, primarily moths. (Photo: Babak Tafreshi).
Only two Northern White Rhinos remain on Earth. The two females are protected 24/7 by armed guards at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. This species has been hunted to the brink of extinction; however, a promising solution has emerged. In January, scientists from an international project called BioRescue announced successful breeding of white rhinos through in vitro fertilization. The photo captures a scientist holding a 70-day-old rhino conceived through this method. (Photo: Ami Vitale).
The photo depicts an eruption at the Fuego Volcano in Guatemala, which has been continuously active since 2002. To capture this spectacular moment, photographer Peter Fisher undertook a day-long hike across rugged terrain, carrying over 20 kg of camera equipment. (Photo: Peter Fisher).
The Similipal Tiger Reserve in eastern India spans 2,750 km² and is home to the world’s only population of wild pseudo-melanistic tigers (also known as black tigers due to their broad black stripes). This unique fur color results from a genetic mutation found only in the Similipal tiger population. These tigers are very shy and rarely appear in public. To photograph them, the photographer must set traps to lure them in. (Photo: Prasenjeet Yadav).
In the vast desert of Egypt lies the Siwa Oasis, home to 35,000 residents. Each year, Siwa Oasis attracts many tourists to experience exciting activities like camel riding, sandboarding, exploring ancient ruins, and swimming in salt lakes. (Photo: M’Hammed Kilito).
Every 13-17 years, cicadas emerge from underground to breed. In May and June, for the first time in 221 years, the 13-year cycle and the 19-year cycle both appeared simultaneously in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States, filling the area with their sounds. (Photo: John Stanmeyer).
The Macaw is a highly social bird that can become stressed in captivity. Their average lifespan is 40-60 years. Many macaws are brought to the Oasis Sanctuary, which professionally cares for 800 parrots, including macaws. The photo shows a caretaker attempting to lure a macaw closer with a walnut, its favorite treat. (Photo: Christie Hemm Klok).
The temple located in the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan, is preserved by the local Wakhi community. This area is rich in animism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism traditions. The image captures a fallen ancient tree at the temple. The Wakhi people do not remove it but rather decorate it with mountain goat and sheep horns according to local customs. (Photo: Matthieu Paley).
Pacific Herring spawn off the coast of Vancouver every spring, with each female laying up to 20,000 eggs. This event inadvertently creates a vibrant underwater display. (Photo: Ryan Tidman).
An elephant died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy road in Zambia. The scene drew a crowd of onlookers who expressed their astonishment at witnessing such a massive creature fall. (Photo: Jasper Doest).
German wildlife photographer Ingo Arndt built a wood ant nest to observe their behavior and reproductive activities. These insects typically hide in mounds in the forest. The photographer documented the entire process of ant larvae hatching into young ants, a remarkable sight. (Photo: Ingo Arndt).
Every spring, Morocco holds a festival to celebrate the rose harvest. Typically, women go out to pick buds in the early morning before the flowers bloom. Afterward, thousands of buds are sorted by hand. The best quality buds are distilled into rose oil and rose water; the remaining ones are dried for tea or garlands.
