
Animals are amazing
Humans may be the top of the food chain, but we’d be nothing without our animals. They make our worlds an easier and better place to live in, giving us reason to pause and smile and — in some cases — serving as true companions and friends. To honor the fluffy, bumpy, lumpy, long, short, tall, and stout, we’re featuring 15 of the most amazing animal photos taken in 2019. Make time to check out the most amazing animal photos of 2018.

Endangered orangutan and its baby
In June 2019, an endangered orangutan from Kalimantan, Indonesia was successfully bred at a zoo in Yogyakarta. Here the orangutan was photographed, by Savira Aryati Batubara, with its wild-haired baby. For more uplifting news, check out these 11 endangered animals making a comeback.

Survival of the fittest
Photographer Ondrej Prosicky was quick and talented enough to capture this image of a black caiman just as its ferocious jaws clamped down on an unfortunate piranha. The image was taken in Pantanal, Brazil where the caiman is one of 17 animals found only in the Amazon rain forest.

Huskie sled duo
A duo of blue-eyed huskies — one at ease and the other alert — prepare to pull a sled at sunset in Finland, Inari.

A surprising bed
A young boy rests atop a herd of at-ease buffalo in Syukor Khamis Kampung, Malaysia. This photograph was taken by photographer Azami Adiputera.

Love-making snails
This photographer caught two entwined snails making love in a dewy garden. It’s not exactly a sexy scene, but this shot offers an incredibly fascinating view into their low-to-the-earth world. Don’t miss these 20 most incredible underwater photos ever taken.

Nature humored by nature
Look closely and you’ll see what this Sri Lankan leopard has its eye on: a fluttering monarch butterfly. The image was captured by photographer Ayesh Perera during a safari trip at the national sanctuary of Wilpatthu.

A man and his eagle
An older Mongolian hunter poses with his open-mouthed Golden Eagle while wearing traditional garb with the Gobi Desert in the background. Eagles have incredible eyesight and are trained to become excellent hunters.

Mama lion love
This photo taken by Thomas Retterath captures a lioness and her young cub getting cuddly in Kruger National Park, South Africa. You can see their calm herd in the background. Your heart will also pitter-patter over these 17 adorable pictures of baby animals.

Left in the dust
A beautiful white Arabian horse, photographed by Jenna Brooks, kicks up a cloud of dust in its wake as it runs through the desert in the United Arab Emirates. Here in the United States, you can still see wild horses run free in these locales.

Juicy fruit
At first glance, it may look like an abstract painting but look closely and you’ll see that it’s actually a purple octopus enjoying a ripe watermelon half. This photo was taken in Valencia Spain by photographer Oksana Klymenko_But. Don’t miss these 20 arrestingly beautiful photos that stand the test of time.

A happy couple
Here, a native Peruvian woman dressed in traditional garb poses happily with her handsome white llama alpaca. The image was taken in the Sacred Valley near Cusco.

Surveying their land
Three Macaque monkeys perch atop the Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal overlooking the city and its hills, photographed by Ivan Dunsmore. The temple is also commonly known as the “Monkey Temple,” and you can probably guess why.

Fierce leopard
The leopard is known for its fiery and intimidating personality, and this photograph of an adult male leopard by Sourabh Bharti captures that personality perfectly. This image was taken in the Jhalana forest reserve in Jaipur, India. Don’t miss these 12 strikingly beautiful animal photos you need to see.

Nature’s spotlight
An older man in Bogor West Java, Indonesia, looks up to his horse. It’s an intimate moment made more dazzling by early morning light cutting through a hazy dew. Be sure to check out 23 of the most colorful animals in the world.

Flamingos in the salt flats
This serene image taken by Jam Travels depicts a flock of pale pink flamingos happily feeding at a lake in Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats. The blue mountains in the distance and creamy golden foreground add an element of magic.