Charles Gore, Mum Protects Her Calf (ANIMAL & NATURE 2025)

Off the coast of Dover Heights in Sydney, a female humpback whale and her calf make their three-month migration south to Antarctica. The mother hasn’t eaten for six months and burns over a million calories each day to nurse her calf and complete the journey. Suddenly, a male whale approaches at full speed — females can become biologically receptive to mating soon after giving birth. But this mother isn’t interested. In a powerful display, she propels herself into the air, completing a full 360-degree spin before crashing down, her immense weight striking the ocean’s surface to drive the male away.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.