A mudskipper fish defending its territory from a crab, a fox taking advantage of a full London bin and a confrontation between Emperor and Adelie penguins are among the 25 "astounding" images selected for a public vote.
Other images up for the vote are a courting mountain hares touching noses in Scotland's Monadhliath Mountains, jellyfish illuminated by the aurora borealis, a polar bear asleep on an iceberg, Celebes crested macaque drinking from a plastic bottle and a starling murmuration that looks like a giant bird.
They have been chosen by the Natural History Museum and a judging panel from nearly 50,000 entries from 95 countries submitted to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Dr Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: "Wildlife Photographer of the Year's people's choice award always offers an astounding selection of images, and this year is no different.
"We invite the public to join the jury and vote for their favourite; whether breath-taking beauty or a powerful story, it's sure to be a difficult decision."
The public can vote for their favourite image online or at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London, until voting closes on January 31 2024.
The winning choice and four top images will be announced in February 2024 and displayed online, joining the winners of the 59th annual international competition.
The people's choice award images are also being showcased at the exhibition at the Natural History Museum.
The overall competition was won by Laurent Ballesta for the second time with an image of a tri-spine horseshoe crab gliding along the bottom of the sea.
:: People can see and vote for their favourite images online at: www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/peoples-choice
1. Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Snowshoes by Deena Sveinsson, USA, of a snowshoe hare in the Rocky Mountain National Park, USA, which has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Photo: Deena Sveinsson/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
2. Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Troublemaker by Stefan Christmann, Germany, of an Adelie penguin approaches an emperor penguin and its chick during feeding time in Antarctica's Atka Bay, which has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Photo: Stefan Christmann/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
3. Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Ice Bed by Nima Sarikhani, UK, of a polar bear in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, which has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Photo: Nima Sarikhani/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
4. Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Swallow Over Meadow by Hermann Hirsch/Jan Lessman, Germany, of a barn swallow flies over a meadow of cornflowers in Eastern Germany, which has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award. Photo: Hermann Hirsch/Wildlife Photographer of the Year