Sam Hobson / Blood samples collected by scientists working with urban goshawks (Accipiter gentilis). Berlin, Germany, May 2014. Nominated in the Melvita Nature Images Awards competition 2014.

Doug Gimesy / Top of front right webbed foot of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Photographed in field under controlled conditions - Platypus anaesthetised as part of research procedure conducted by Platypus Co...

Sergio Hanquet / Scientists performing Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) calf necropsy on beach to determine cause of death, whale found drifting at sea. Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2010.

Sergio Hanquet / Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in net, hoisted in air prior to necropsy, man watching in foreground. Tenerife, Canary Islands, 2010.

Sergio Hanquet / Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) hoisted in air, prior to necropsy to determine reason for death. Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2015.

Sergio Hanquet / Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) washed up dead on beach, man standing in water looking at whale, prior to necropsy to determine reason for death. Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2015...

Sergio Hanquet / Woman annotating illustrations of Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) during necropsy of dead calf found drifting at sea. Tenerife, Canary Islands. 2010.

Francisco Marquez / Researcher collecting a blood sample from a Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) juvenile's leg during the ringing process, Fuente de Piedra lagoon, Malaga, Spain. August.

Jabruson Motion / Conservation worker darting a female Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) in a tree with anaesthetic, part of a relocation programme, Sei Serdang, Prima, Batang Serangan, Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesi...

Jabruson Motion / Conservation workers preparing a pump action dart gun to anaesthatize a Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), part of a relocation programme, Sei Serdang, Prima, Batang Serangan, Langkat, North Sumatra,...

David Perpinan / Surgical site and procedure in a wild Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) in order to place a subcutaneous radiotransmitter for a conservation project. Small repro only

David Perpinan / Endotracheal intubation in a wild Eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) anesthetized for a minor surgery small repro only