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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: First competition images expose human impact on fragile world of nature

The annual competition showcases some of nature's lesser-known behaviours and habitats. Nearly 50,000 entered their photographs, 15 of which have received highly commended awards.

Pic: Jef Pattyn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
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A scar-faced fox, a hitch-hiking macaque and two storks hunting by a controlled fire are among the first images released in this year鈥檚 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The competition showcases some lesser-known behaviours and habitats while exposing the impact humans have on the fragile natural world.

Out of nearly 50,000 entries from 95 countries, photographers are judges anonymously on their creativity, originality and technical skill.

Kathy Moran, chairwoman of the judging panel, said the range of images are "stark reminders of what we are doing to the natural world".

Developed and produced by London's Natural History Museum, below are 15 images that have been highly commended ahead of the winners' awards ceremony on 10 October.

Pic: Neil Aldridge/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: The face of the persecuted. Pic: Neil Aldridge/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Among the images is a fox in a Kent rehabilitation centre after being attacked - likely by dogs. It is called The face of the persecuted and was taken by Neil Aldridge.

Pic: Elza FriedlanderWildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Firebirds. Pic: Elza FriedlanderWildlife Photographer of the Year

Another is called Firebirds and depicts two white storks hunting alongside a fire in Kenya that had been lit to clear bushland, captured by Elza Friedlander.

Pic: Caitlin Henderson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Possum's midnight snack. Pic: Caitlin Henderson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Caitlin Henderson was able to snap a possum munching on insects in the middle of the night outside her balcony window in Queensland, Australia.

Pic: Atsuyuki Ohshima/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Forest rodeo. Pic: Atsuyuki Ohshima/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

And Atsuyuki Ohshima caught the moment a macaque sprang from a tree on to a deer on the Japanese island of Yakushima.

Pic: Donglin Zhou/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Race for life. Pic: Donglin Zhou/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A rare snow leopard hunting a Pallas's cat in China, was captured by Donglin Zhou.

Pic: Solvin Zankl/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Mason bee at work. Pic: Solvin Zankl/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A mason bee, building its home from twigs, was snapped in Germany by Solvin Zankl.

Pic: Agorastos Papatsanis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Mushroom magic. Pic: Agorastos Papatsanis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Other aspects of nature captured included the swirling spores of a mushroom in Greece.

Pic: Alex Mustard/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Coral connections. Pic: Alex Mustard/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Coral from UK seas, taken by Alex Mustard.

The vanishing seal
Pic: Bruno D'Amicis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: The vanishing seal. Pic: Bruno D'Amicis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

And a seal, dubbed The vanishing seal, taken by Bruno D'Amicis in Italy.

Pic: Max Waugh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Snow bison. Pic: Max Waugh/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Snow bison in the US were taken by Max Waugh.

Pic: Natural History Museum of War cub by Michal Siarek
Image: War cub. Pic: Michal Siarek/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A photo titled War cub shows a tiger cub protesting after being evacuated from eastern Ukraine, taken by Michal Siarek.

Pic: Jasper Doest/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Fight to the death. Pic: Jasper Doest/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

While Jasper Doest titled his image of an elephant blowing mud out of its trunk, Fight to the death.

Pic: Zhai Zeyu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Coot on ice. Pic: Zhai Zeyu/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A Coot running on ice was taken by Zhai Zeyu, and is another image that has been highly commended.

Pic: Shashwat Harish/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: The catwalk. Pic: Shashwat Harish/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Shashwat Harish from Kenya captured a leopard crossing a river, calling the image The catwalk.

Pic: Jef Pattyn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Image: Prize catch. Pic: Jef Pattyn/Wildlife Photographer of the Year

And Jef Pattyn submitted a black and white image of a fisherman dragging a huge fish along a beach, titled Prize catch.