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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year - The jawdropping winners

These breathtaking images are the winners of the 2016 Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

A creeping leopard, a swirling school of fish and a colourful lagoon all appear in the photographs that took the top prizes across 16 categories.

An endangered Orangutan determinedly clambering up a tree trunk was the subject of the overall winner, taken by American photographer Tim Laman.

Tim’s picture beat more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries. It will go on show alongside 99 others at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, before touring in the UK and internationally.

Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year highlights some of the big questions for society and the environment:

‘How can we protect biodiversity? Can we learn to live in harmony with nature? The winning images touch our hearts, and challenge us to think differently about the natural world.’’