Wildlife and nature photography award-winning images of 2013 – in pictures

British wildlife photography awards 2013, winning image: 'In the Living Room' by George Karbus Photograph: George Karbus/BWPA/PA

British wildlife photography winner in the documentary category: A badger, part of a series by Neil Aldridge Photograph: Neil Aldridge/BWPA/PA

British wildlife photography awards 2013: 'A great tit in flight' by James Amess, winner of the Wildpix Young People's (12-18) award Photograph: Joseph Amess/BWPA/PA

56th World Press Photo contest: This image of an endangered southern cassowary feeding on the fruit of the blue quandang tree in Black Mountain Road, Australia, by photographer Christian Ziegler of Germany, won the first prize in the nature singles category. Cassowaries are a crucial species to northern Australia's rainforests because of their ability to carry many big seeds to long distances Photograph: Christian Ziegler / National Geographic Magazine/World Press Photo/EPA

56th World Press Photo Contest, winner in nature series category: This image by Canadian photographer Paul Nicklen, National Geographic magazine, from the series 'Emperor penguins, Ross Sea' shows a group of emperor penguins swimming in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Even though they have evolved an incredibly advanced bubble physiology the greatest challenge penguins face is the loss of sea ice that supports their colonies and ecosystem. New science shows that emperor penguins are capable of tripling their swimming speed by releasing millions of bubbles from their feathers. These bubbles reduce the friction between their feathers and the icy seawater, allowing them to accelerate in the water. They use speeds of up to 30kmph to avoid leopard seals and to launch themselves up onto the ice Photograph: Paul Nicklen/World Press Photo/EPA

South African photographer Greg du Toit was named Wildlife photographer of the year 2013 by a panel of international judges for his image 'Essence of elephants' – a mysterious and energetic portrait of African elephants in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana Photograph: Greg du Toit/2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Young wildlife photographer of the year 2013 winner: 'Mother's little headful' by Udayan Rao Pawar, 14, shows gharial crocodile taking her young charges into River Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, India. Chambal is one of the last strongholds of the gharial crocodile and is increasingly under threaht from illegal sand mining and fishing Photograph: Udayan Rao Pawar /2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

GDT European wildlife photographer of the year 2013, overall winner: 'Night moves' by Dr Alexander Mustard shows the trails of bar jacks hunting at night over a coral reef Photograph: Alexander Mustard//GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year

This image by Britta Jaschinski of Germany was the winning photograph in man and nature category of GDT European wildlife photographer of the year 2013. It was taken during a performance at the Chimelong International Circus in Guangzhou, China. The circus had the slogan ‘Heaven of animals brings happiness to people.' Three times a day, this Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) stepped out of his tiny cage onto the stage. He was dressed in a costume to accompany the clown. The audience clapped and cheered as he showed off his ‘talent’. It's been reported that circuses across China apply cruel training regimes. The animals ‘work hard' to get rewarded with food, simply because they are starved before the performance Photograph: Britta Jaschinski/GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year

GDT nature photographer of the year 2013: A red fox in sunset light by Hermann Hirsch was the overall and mammals category winner Photograph: Hermann Hirsch/GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2013

Landscape photographer of the year awards: 'Ghost of Rannoch Moor' by David Breen won in the classic view category Photograph: David Breen/PA

2013 Fritz Pölking nature photography award: Home with terrace and a view. The shy song thrush couple chose the perfect nesting ground in an old Opel to raise their young. 'Nature conservationists in the local municipality would like to see the cars removed, while culture conservationists want to make it a cultural monument. I hope that the nature conservationists will begin to realise that nature is already doing a good job in taking this site over and that they eventually join the culture conservationists to make it a combined nature and culture reserve,' says photographer Pål Hermansen Photograph: Pål Hermansen/GDT Fritz Pölking Prize 2013

2013 Fritz Pölking nature photography award: The garden resident – soon after sunset hedgehogs leave their day-time hiding places and roam suburban gardens looking for food Photograph: Hermann Hirsch/GDT Fritz Pölking Junior Prize 2013

Woodland Trust photography competition 2013: : This photograph of a tawny owl in Rough Hill Wood, Warwickshire, by Peter Preece was the winning image in all creatures great and small category Photograph: Peter Preece/Woodland Trust

Woodland Trust photography competition 2013: 'A cabin in bluebell woods' in Hampshire, by Ashley Chaplin, won in the overall and ancient woods and modern wonders category Photograph: Ashley Chaplin/Woodland Trust

Oryx Award winner, BirdLife South Africa Oceans of Life photo competition 2013: An evening stretch by Robert Tarr, showing Cape gannets in their breeding colony on Malgas Island, South Africa. This species has been heavily impacted by reductions in the fish stocks it feeds on Photograph: Rob Tarr/BirdLife South Africa Oceans of Life photo competition 2013

Mammal society photographer of the year 2013: A wood mouse with blackberry, by Gary Cox, won the third place in the competition Photograph: Gary Cox/Mammal Society Photographer of the Year 2013

BMC ecology image competition overall winner: This image, taken by postdoctoral researcher Moritz Muschnik from University of Sheffield, depicts the startling camouflage of a stick insect (Timema poppensis) stick insect against its host redwood tree(Sequoia sempervirens) Photograph: Moritz Muschick/BMC Ecology Image Competition

BMC ecology image competition winner in conservation ecology and biodiversity category: Hara Woltz took this picture of a Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) using a man-made road on Santa Cruz Island Photograph: Hara Woltz/BMC Ecology Image Competition

ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2013: 'A giant trophy for a small ant' by Bence Mate won in the size matters category Photograph: Bence Mate/ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2013

This image from the most viewed gallery on the Guardian's environment website is of the world’s clearest lake, the Blue Lake in South Island, New Zealand Photograph: Klaus Thymann /Project Pressure

From our big picture series: A male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) starved to death as a consequence of climate change. This male polar bear was last tracked by the Norwegian Polar Institute in April 2013 in southern Svalbard. It was found dead by scientist Ian Stirling when he was on an Arctic research cruise Photograph: Ashley Cooper/Global Warming Images

Worst loser on 2013 IUCN red list of endangered species: The okapi, the blue-tongued relative of the giraffe, is found only in the rainforests of the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and is now endangered. This male okapi (Okapia Johnstoni) was seeb in Epulu Ituri rainforest reserve of DRC Photograph: Jabruson/WWF