Nature photographers spend their entire careers searching for the perfect photos to snap. The best of the best end up in the pages of National Geographic. Check out some of the best in recent memory.
Visually Stunning National Geographic Animal Photos That Will Leave You In Awe
#1 The raw emotion in his eyes!
In this photo, you can see a male orangutan looking at the photographer while hiding behind a tree in Borneo, Indonesia. Because of poaching, this animal is critically endangered.
#2 Easy, Breezy, Beautiful... Coverlion
This stunning photo was snapped early one morning while this young adult male lion came sauntering through the sea of flowers. He paused for a moment to shake his head and presented the photographer with this once in a lifetime photo op.
#3 Draw me like one of your French seals.
This seal snapped in Skagen, Denmark was all about lavishing his moment in the spotlight. Just look at that face. He was born for this.
#4 The floor is lava!
These goats put cheerleaders to shame. Just look at that perfect pyramid. Have you ever seen anything so cute before in your life?
#5 Just stalking prey.
Have you ever felt like you were being watched? That feeling where the hair on the back of your neck stands on end. You look around but you can't find what is stalking you. Then you see it. There is nothing as terrifying as hiking in the mountains and hearing purring from overhead. Mountain lions are the biggest of the purring cats, and unlike most large predators, they see humans as nothing more than a protein source.
#6 I came in like a wrecking ball...
This little guy hanging from a tree is just so stinking cute. Excuse the Miley Cyrus reference but I just couldn't help it.
#7 Time for a snack.
This seal is about to enjoy a snack at the expense of a starfish. The photographer is incredibly lucky to have been able to snap this photo at just the right time.