There are battling reindeer, polar bears playing, and several spiders.
By Mary Jo DiLonardo
Published October 13, 2021
Fact checked by Haley Mast

There are polar bears playing, courting salamanders, melting sea ice, and one very venomous spider lurking under the bed. These are some of this year's winning images in the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Chosen from more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries, the winners highlight breathtaking moments in nature and wildlife.

The battling reindeer photo above was the winner in the Behaviour: Mammals category. Called "Head to head,” it was taken by Stefano Unterthiner of Italy who captured two Svalbard reindeer fight for control of a harem.

The museum directors describe the photo:

Stefano followed these reindeer during the rutting season. Watching the fight, he felt immersed in ‘the smell, the noise, the fatigue and the pain’. The reindeer clashed antlers until the dominant male (left) chased its rival away, securing the opportunity to breed.

Reindeer are widespread around the Arctic, but this subspecies occurs only in Svalbard. Populations are affected by climate change, where increased rainfall can freeze on the ground, preventing access to plants that would otherwise sit under soft snow.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. Here's a look at some of the other winners.

Grand Title Winner: Wildlife Photographer of the Year

SNIP