2025, Bird, Ethiopia Selection

Moorland Chat (Pinarochroa sordida) on a Kniphofia foliosa – Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Moorland Chat (Pinarochroa sordida) on a Kniphofia foliosa - Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Moorland Chat (Pinarochroa sordida) on a Kniphofia foliosa – Bale Mountains, Ethiopia.

Perched with surprising agility atop a Red Hot Poker, this Moorland Chat surveys the high-altitude grasslands of the Bale Mountains National Park.

From an ornithological perspective, the Moorland Chat is a fascinating subject. A true champion of extreme environments, it is one of the few passerines capable of living and breeding at altitudes up to 4,500 meters. Unlike many species that migrate to milder valleys during harsh weather, it remains a year-round resident of the high plateaus, daily enduring nocturnal frosts and thinning oxygen.

Here it is seen on a Kniphofia foliosa, an endemic plant whose blooms serve as strategic perches. Its long legs, shown in full extension in this shot, bear witness to its perfect adaptation to life on the ground and in the low vegetation of alpine moorlands. Its ability to maintain constant activity in such a demanding environment makes it a symbol of resilience for Ethiopian wildlife.

2018, Djibouti Selection, Fish, Underwater Pictures from Djibouti

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura

Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura - Djibouti

Silhouette of a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in the Gulf of Tadjoura – Djibouti

Emerging from the depths of the Gulf of Tadjoura, the whale shark reveals its massive silhouette, adorned with a constellation of white spots unique to each individual.

Despite its impressive size, this sea giant is a harmless filter feeder that lives almost exclusively on plankton. In the waters of Djibouti, encountering the world’s largest fish is a moment of suspended grace. Its thick, starry skin acts like a digital fingerprint, allowing researchers to identify and track individuals across the oceans.

This top-down view highlights the whale shark’s hydrodynamic elegance. Moving with majestic slowness, it reminds us of the vulnerability of giants in a changing environment. Protecting its feeding grounds, as seen here in the Horn of Africa, is vital for the survival of this iconic species, currently listed as endangered.

2025, Ethiopia Selection, Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)

Young Abyssinian wolf scanning the pack’s territory

Young Abyssinian wolf scanning the pack's territory - Ethiopia

Young Abyssinian wolf scanning the pack’s territory – Ethiopia

Perched on a rocky outcrop, this young wolf is beginning to adopt the postures of an adult. Still inexperienced, he gazes across the high plateaus, learning to read the landscape and spot the movements around him.

For the Abyssinian wolf, vigilance is an essential part of growing up. Every individual plays a part in defending the family home range—a vital space closely linked to the abundance of rodents the pack relies on. By gradually taking his place on the high points, the juvenile learns this fundamental role, a quiet but decisive step toward adulthood.

2025, HD and 360°, Portugal Selection

Mesquita Beach and its golden cliffs, Algarve, Portugal


Mesquita Beach and its golden cliffs, Algarve, Portugal

Sculpted cliffs of Mesquita Beach, Algarve – Portugal.


👁️ View the 360° virtual tour

A discreet gem of the Algarve, Mesquita Beach reveals a spectacular landscape where marine erosion has carved arches and columns out of golden limestone.

Located near the famous Benagil Cave, Mesquita offers a much more rugged and wild atmosphere. Its steep cliffs, shaped by the wind and sea spray, bear witness to the patient strength of the Atlantic. At low tide, the receding water reveals secret passages between the rocks and natural pools where the stone seems to dissolve into the turquoise hues of the ocean.

This virtual tour allows you to immerse yourself at the foot of these stone giants and contemplate the fine geological layers that tell millions of years of sedimentary history.

2023, Algeria Selection, Sahara

Dune crest under the breath of the Sahara

Dune crest under the breath of the Sahara - Algeria

Dune crest under the breath of the Sahara – Algeria

Under the low-angled light, a dune in the Algerian Sahara dissolves into the wind, a reminder of the shifting nature of the desert.

Every year, nearly 180 million tons of dust and sand rise from the Sahara, driven by the wind. Some of these particles then begin a spectacular journey, crossing the Atlantic over thousands of miles.

Carried by the trade winds, this Saharan dust reaches the Caribbean and South America, where it settles notably over the Amazon basin. It brings essential nutrients, particularly phosphorus, which is vital for soil fertility and the maintenance of the rainforest. Without this regular influx from the desert, one of the planet’s richest ecosystems in biodiversity could not renew itself in the same way.

Thus, this sand torn from the Saharan dunes recalls a fundamental truth: even the most arid and inhospitable environments play an essential role in the balance of life, linking deserts and tropical forests within a single global cycle.

2025, Bird, Oman Selection

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman

Sanderlings in flight (Calidris alba) – Oman.

Flying in tight flocks over the shores of the Arabian Sea, these long-distance migrants connect the coasts of Oman to the Arctic tundras every year.

Always on the move, Sanderlings skirt the shoreline in dense groups, punctuating the coast with their swift, synchronized flights. These small shorebirds travel thousands of miles annually between their Arctic breeding grounds and the temperate or tropical beaches where they overwinter. On the foreshore, they tirelessly follow the ebb and flow of the waves, feeding on tiny invertebrates revealed by the receding water.

2025, Mammal, Spain Selection

Grooming Behavior of the Eurasian Otter

Grooming Behavior of the Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), Spain

After a dive, a Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) shakes itself to maintain its fur, which is essential for insulation and survival in an aquatic environment.

Discreet and elusive, the Eurasian otter is a valuable bioindicator: its presence is a sign of a healthy river.

As a top predator at the apex of the food chain, it must consume around 10 to 15% of its body weight each day, roughly one kilogram of food (fish, crustaceans, amphibians). Such abundance is only possible in rich aquatic environments, where good water quality allows microorganisms and insects at the base of the food web to thrive.

Furthermore, the otter is extremely sensitive to bioaccumulation: chemical pollutants such as heavy metals and pesticides concentrate along the food chain until they reach it. Its active presence and successful reproduction therefore provide a particularly reliable biological indicator, revealing an aquatic ecosystem that is functional and well preserved.

2023, Bird, Spain Selection

The Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus): Acrobat of the Undergrowth

Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) perched in the soft light of the undergrowth

In the soft light of the undergrowth, a Blue Tit pauses for a brief moment.

A burst of color and energy, the Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) brings a vital spark of life to the silence of the forest.

This small, agile acrobat plays a crucial role as a natural regulator within its ecosystem. During the breeding season, a single pair can collect up to 10,000 insects and larvae—particularly defoliating caterpillars—to feed a single brood. Its presence indicates a diverse woodland environment that provides both essential nesting sites and a rich, sustainable food source.

2015, Mexico Selection, Underwater Pictures from Mexico

Diving into the Mayan Underworld: The Cenotes of Yucatán

Scuba diver exploring light beams in a Mexican cenote, Yucatan

Beneath the Yucatán jungle, cenotes offer a unique spectacle where light carves through the darkness.

Considered gateways to the underworld by the ancient Maya, cenotes are natural sinkholes formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock.

These unique geological formations house vast networks of underground rivers, the longest in the world. In the crystal-clear water, the meeting of fresh surface water and deeper salt water often creates a halocline—a striking optical phenomenon that gives the illusion of flying over an underwater river. For a diver, every descent is a journey through time among stalactites and stalagmites formed millennia ago, when these caves were still dry.

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