A deer's antlers have become a gruesome trophy after a brutal fight, with the decomposed head of another sika deer stuck on top. The photograph, titled "Never-Ending Struggle," was taken by Kohei Nagira in Hokkaido, Japan, and is one of 24 finalists for the Natural History Museum of London's Nuveen People's Choice Award for the best wildlife photography of 2026.
The image shows a deer with a cheerful expression, but its antlers are tangled with another sika deer's head, which had been ripped off during the fight. According to witnesses, the rival deer was dragged around for days before its head popped off. The photograph has sparked both admiration and revulsion, with many praising Nagira's candid portrayal of life and death in the wild.
However, it's not just fierce battles that make for great wildlife photography – sometimes, unexpected partnerships can be just as fascinating. For example, American photographer Chris Gug snapped a photo of a juvenile swimming crab hitching a ride on a jellyfish while scuba diving at night in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reason for the unlikely duo remains unclear.
Meanwhile, photographer Dvir Barkay captured an adorable image of a baby sloth smiling contentedly in its mother's arms – or rather, her body, which shielded the little one from downpours. Another photograph by Artur Tomaszek shows a tiny male broad-headed bark spider peeking out from the head of a camouflaged female, highlighting the complexities of insect relationships.
Nature has a way of surprising us with its beauty and brutality, as exemplified in Adam Oswell's image of snares confiscated by rangers in Murchison Falls National Park. The photograph shows what could initially be mistaken for branches or guns, but is actually a collection of snares that pose a significant threat to African wildlife.
Lastly, German photographer Peter Lindel shared a poignant image of a young kestrel family's transition from fledgling to adult. After nearly a week of hesitation, the chicks mustered up the courage to take their first leap into adulthood – a moment captured in stunning detail by Lindel.
As we appreciate these incredible photographs, it's essential to remember that they're not just snapshots of wildlife but also a window into the intricate web of life and death that sustains our planet.
The image shows a deer with a cheerful expression, but its antlers are tangled with another sika deer's head, which had been ripped off during the fight. According to witnesses, the rival deer was dragged around for days before its head popped off. The photograph has sparked both admiration and revulsion, with many praising Nagira's candid portrayal of life and death in the wild.
However, it's not just fierce battles that make for great wildlife photography – sometimes, unexpected partnerships can be just as fascinating. For example, American photographer Chris Gug snapped a photo of a juvenile swimming crab hitching a ride on a jellyfish while scuba diving at night in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reason for the unlikely duo remains unclear.
Meanwhile, photographer Dvir Barkay captured an adorable image of a baby sloth smiling contentedly in its mother's arms – or rather, her body, which shielded the little one from downpours. Another photograph by Artur Tomaszek shows a tiny male broad-headed bark spider peeking out from the head of a camouflaged female, highlighting the complexities of insect relationships.
Nature has a way of surprising us with its beauty and brutality, as exemplified in Adam Oswell's image of snares confiscated by rangers in Murchison Falls National Park. The photograph shows what could initially be mistaken for branches or guns, but is actually a collection of snares that pose a significant threat to African wildlife.
Lastly, German photographer Peter Lindel shared a poignant image of a young kestrel family's transition from fledgling to adult. After nearly a week of hesitation, the chicks mustered up the courage to take their first leap into adulthood – a moment captured in stunning detail by Lindel.
As we appreciate these incredible photographs, it's essential to remember that they're not just snapshots of wildlife but also a window into the intricate web of life and death that sustains our planet.
I gotta say, this "Never-Ending Struggle" photo is super wild. Like, who knew deer fights could be so intense? 
It's crazy to think about how those two sika deer were going at it for days, and now one of 'em is stuck on top of the other. I'm not sure if I'd call it "beautiful," but it's definitely eye-catching. 
And I love the fact that the photographer captured all the gruesome details – it's like we're seeing nature's raw truth or something.
). It's not just about fierce battles; there's more to it than that. Nature's got a way of surprising us, and I love how these photographers are sharing that with us.
I'm kinda surprised this photo made it as one of the finalists 
. All that drama between deer is a bit too much. Don't get me wrong, wildlife photography can be amazing, but sometimes I prefer photos that showcase more peaceful moments with animals 
. These other pics from Chris Gug and Artur Tomaszek are so cute! 
? But at the same time, it's just so sad to see those deer fighting to death and ending up with such a gruesome trophy... it's like, yeah, nature is wild but can't we just appreciate the beauty without having to face that harsh reality? 
. But at the same time, it's also really beautiful in a dark way... like, it's like nature's own twisted art show 
. And I love how some of these photos are just so unexpected, like that crab riding on a jellyfish or a baby sloth snuggled up with its mom 
. It's crazy how much complexity and beauty is in the natural world!
I'm both like wow that's crazy brutal at the same time 
those are some master shots right there! But seriously, it's all about perspective and respecting the wild 
we gotta appreciate these images but also remember the message behind them - that nature is full of surprises both good and bad 
I can imagine how unsettling that photo is... those poor deer, fighting for their lives and one losing in such a brutal way 
. But at the same time, it's also so fascinating to see the harsh realities of nature play out 
.
But seriously, I love how all these photos are showcasing the wild side of animals – it's both beautiful and brutal 
. And who knew crabs could hitch a ride on jellyfish? 
, and that spider photo is like a tiny ninja peeking out from its hiding spot 
. And can we talk about the snares in Murchison Falls National Park? 
And those baby crabs swimming with jellyfish? Unbelievable! 
and Artur Tomaszek's sloth pic is just pure adorbs 
And Peter Lindel's kestrel pics are like the ultimate symbol of growth and freedom 
OMG have you seen this deer pic 
