Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

Barely able to carry his prize this yellow necked mouse takes a flying leap to escape. Carsten Brun captured this awesome action shot — Image caption,
Barely able to carry his prize, this yellow necked mouse takes a flying leap to escape. After building a small pond with rocks in, the photographer knew the mouse would need to jump to get to the nuts placed inside the water pond. Patience paid off, finally achieving this incredible shot. These photos have all been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice award.

Hanging onto the washing line, this Central American Spider monkey faces an uncertain future, chillingly reflected in his very human expression. His mother has been killed to allow him to be sold for the pet trade, where he may well be discarded as he matures and becomes more active and difficult to control.

Hanging onto the washing line, this Central American Spider monkey faces an uncertain future. His mother has been killed, leaving him to be sold as a pet. The Central American Spider Monkeys are endangered. Lovers of nature photography can for the first time have their say in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition.

Casually looking over its shoulder, this short eared owl keeps watch for scavenging Northern Harriers as it hunts for food in Canada. It was hunting voles, and is one of the few species of owls which hunt in the daytime. A new publicly decided category, the People’s Choice Award, recognises the high standard of this year’s entries.

Stunning colours and an unusual perspective make this shot of a piraputangas shoal in the waters of Brazil stand out from the crowd

Photographer Adriana Basques had her patience and skill rewarded after having to position herself on the bottom of the river bed whilst holding her breath, pointing her camera upwards to get both the fish and tree together in the perfect shot. The new category offers up 50 images for a global online vote.

A tourist unwittingly lost his iPhone to this cheeky Japanese Macaque.

A tourist unwittingly lost his smartphone to this cheeky Japanese macaque. It is unclear whether he was taking selfies or checking the Newsround website. Japanese macaques are already famous for many peculiar behaviours such as washing their food before eating it and bathing in hot weather.

Playfully investigating the camera, these endangered Australian Seal Lions show their natural curiosity to photographer Michael O’Neil

The natural curiosity and playful nature of these endangered Australian sea lions at Hopkins Island, Australia is clearly seen in this beautiful black and white image. The top five People’s Choice Award images will be displayed online, adding to the 100-strong portfolio chosen by the judges.

A lucky grizzly bear steals a cheeky free meal after finding this dead salmon drifting along in the lakes of Ni'iinlii Njik Park in Canada. Grizzly bears can often be found here fishing for both dead and alive salmon.

Leaping into the sunset, these red kangaroos leave the local waterhole in Sturt National Park, Australia. The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London on 24 October.

Waking up with a big stretch, this young lioness is waking up before setting off to hunt in the Masai Mara in Kenya, with the rest of her pride.