Mary McDonald / Black vulture (Coragyps atratus) on sandbar, along Cuiaba River, Northern Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Michael Pitts / Hawaiian monk seal caught in fishing tackle off Kure Atoll, Pacific Ocean. The seal was subsequently freed and released by the photographer.

Franco Banfi / School of Munk's devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacif...

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air with one leaping out of the water, Baja California, Mexico

Mark Carwardine / Munk's pygmy devil ray / Munk's mobula (Mobula munkiana) large school from the air, Baja California, Mexico.

Francisco Marquez / Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) and European black vultures (Aegypius monachus) feeding on a dead deer, Cabaneros National Park, Montes de Toledo, Spain, May.

Kevin Schafer / Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) male on beach, Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Doug Perrine / Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) adult male swimming, Deserta Grande, Ilhas Desertas, Parque Natural da Madeira, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean, June. Critically endangered species

Gabriel Rojo / Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) Calden Forest , La Pampa , Argentina

Doug Perrine / Female Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) defending her pup from two males, which are aggressive with each other, Molokai Island, Hawaii, USA.

Doug Perrine / Female Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) fighting with a male trying to mate with her, Molokai Island, Hawaii, USA.

Doug Perrine / Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) aggressive male attacks a five and a half week pup, mother (right) approaches to intervene; Papaloa Beach, Kalaupapa, Molokai, Hawaii, USA

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / Buddhist Monk hands holding prayer beads in Samdo village (3.690 m). Manaslu Conservation Area, Himalayas, Nepal, October 2009. No release available.