Skimming Flight, Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) – Oman
The yellow-legged gull grazes the crest of the waves, perfectly balanced between sky and sea, in a silent dance with the ocean.
Category: Nature and wildlife
The Ethiopian Wolf, Sentinel of the Abyssinian Highlands
The Ethiopian Wolf, Sentinel of the Abyssinian Highlands
Bathed in golden light, a lone figure stands against the rolling backdrop of the Ethiopian highlands.
The Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), the world’s rarest wild canid, is a highland specialist, roaming open alpine grasslands in search of rodents.
This image captures the animal’s solitude and elegance within a vast, dreamlike landscape. Though elusive and threatened, it remains one of Africa’s most iconic predators—and a quiet symbol of the country’s vanishing wilderness.
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti
In the deep, dark waters of the Gulf of Tadjourah, off the coast of Djibouti, emerges a majestic silhouette: the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world. With its enormous mouth agape, it filters thousands of liters of water each hour, harvesting plankton and tiny prey suspended in the ocean. Despite measuring between 12 and 18 meters long, this gentle giant is completely harmless to humans.
Its feeding strategy is simple yet remarkably efficient: it swims slowly with its mouth wide open, filtering up to 6,000 liters of water per hour. Each day, it can consume several dozen kilograms of plankton, fish larvae, and small crustaceans. The nutrient-rich waters of Djibouti, especially between October and February, attract these giants in search of food, offering rare and unforgettable encounters.
The Abyssinian Wolf, Watcher of the Ethiopian Highlands
The Abyssinian Wolf, Watcher of the Ethiopian Highlands
Alone on the highlands of Abyssinia, the Ethiopian wolf scans the horizon. This slender predator, perfectly adapted to life at high altitude, is now one of the most endangered mammals on the African continent. Threatened by habitat fragmentation and diseases transmitted by domestic dogs, only about 500 individuals remain in the wild.
Bioluminescence of Krill Rising to the Surface at Nightfall (likely Euphausia sibogae) – Arabian Sea, Oman
Bioluminescence of Krill Rising to the Surface at Nightfall (likely Euphausia sibogae) – Arabian Sea, Oman
At nightfall, krill rise from the depths to the surface, driven by the planet’s largest daily animal migration. There, tossed by the waves, they emit a cold, bluish light. Their bioluminescence, produced by tiny organs called photophores, creates brief flashes across the surface of the sea. This shimmering glow — both camouflage and communication — sometimes turns the night ocean into a living sea of stars, drifting and silent.
Mobulas Rays (Mobula tarapacana), Sea Devils or Gentle Giants? – Azores, Portugal
Mobulas Rays (Mobula tarapacana), Sea Devils or Gentle Giants? – Azores, Portugal
Mobula rays, close relatives of the majestic manta rays, have long been nicknamed “devilfish” by fishermen around the world.
Their imposing silhouette, the two horn-like cephalic fins on their heads, the tail spine at the base of their dorsal fin, and especially their habit of leaping spectacularly out of the water have all fueled fear and superstition.
Among the most far-fetched tales, it was said that mobulas could seize a ship’s anchor with their curled horns and drag entire boats into the depths.
Despite being completely harmless to humans, they were also accused of wrapping pearl divers and freedivers in their vast “mantle” to drown them.
These legends, born of fear and imagination, now contrast with the awe we feel in the presence of these graceful, peaceful giants — vital players in the balance of marine ecosystems.
Male Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) – Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Male Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) – Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Shy and elusive, the mountain nyala lives only on the Ethiopian highlands, among misty heather forests, alpine meadows, and shadowy clearings. Fewer than 4,000 individuals remain in the wild, most of them confined to the Bale Mountains — the species’ last stronghold.
Males are especially striking: larger and darker than females, they bear long, spiraled horns and a dark crest along their back that stands erect during tension or display. These features make them elegant, ghost-like figures of the high-altitude forests — rare, silent, and hard to glimpse.
Pack of Abyssinian Wolves on Patrol in the Bale Mountains (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Pack of Abyssinian Wolves on Patrol in the Bale Mountains (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Click to see the complete picture in a virtual tour
Abyssinian wolves feed almost exclusively on rodents. Their habitat is limited to the high plateaus and mountains of Ethiopia, where rodent density is particularly high. In the Bale Mountains, where this photo was taken, up to 6,000 rodents can be found per square kilometer.
This diet has shaped their behavior: unlike other wolf species that hunt large prey in packs, Abyssinian wolves hunt alone.
Yet each morning, before spreading out to search for food, clan members carry out a joint patrol across their territory.
On this particular day, six wolves from the Meguiti clan were roaming their land, ensuring no intruders had trespassed.
Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) – Indonesia
Ornate Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus) – Indonesia
Strange and delicate, Solenostomus paradoxus defies the eye. This harlequin ghost pipefish, a master of camouflage, blends perfectly among gorgonian branches or seagrass beds, mimicking the shapes and colors of its surroundings. Hanging head-down, it seems to vanish into the background, eluding predators with ease. Its spectacular mimicry makes it one of the most fascinating illusionists of tropical reefs.
Pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – Spain
Pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – Spain
A small bird of fast-flowing rivers, the white-throated dipper fascinates with its aquatic lifestyle. Able to walk underwater against the current, it hunts aquatic insects, larvae, and small crustaceans along the stream bed. In this discreet dweller of cool waters, the bond between mates is strengthened through food exchanges: the male sometimes feeds the female — a gesture that seals their union before nesting begins.
Japan: A Monkey with a Surprising Habit
Snow monkeys (in Japanese, nihonzaru 日本猿), also known as Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), are the only species of primate living in the wild in Japan. This species is also endemic to the Japanese archipelago. These monkeys are mainly found in mountainous regions, at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2,500 meters. In winter, when temperatures become harsh, these monkeys have developed a surprising habit: soaking in natural hot springs to keep warm!
Ethiopian wolves at play (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Ethiopian wolves at play (Canis simensis), Ethiopia
Two adults ethiopian wolves clash in a burst of movement — a game, perhaps, or a reminder of rank — under the watchful, curious eye of a young pup. These moments of energy, bonding, and social learning are the heartbeat of Abyssinian wolf life. In this dusty flurry, we witness a society in motion.
