These 25 stunning images are shortlisted for a top wildlife photography award

Stunning images of a polar bear cub basking in a field of flowers, a sea lit up by glowing glass eels and a tiny coral-camouflaged seahorse in its natural habitat are among those shortlisted for a prestigious photography award.

The 25 spectacular shots have been shortlisted for the People's Choice Award of the prestigious Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize.

Members of the public are now being invited to have their say and vote for their favourite image for the People's Choice Award on the museum's website and via interactive screens at the museum from 1 December until 2 February.

The winner will be showcased in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year voting screens at the museum until the exhibition closes on Sunday 2 July 2023.

Wasp Attack - Roberto Garcia-Roa, Spain

The frenzied combat between the pompilid wasp and the ornate Ctenus spider. The image shows the wasp checking the spider to confirm if its sting has paralyzed the dangerous prey, before dragging it back to its brood nest.

Location: Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Peru

A golden huddle - Minqiang Lu, China

Two females and a male golden snub-nosed monkey huddle together to keep warm in the extreme winter cold. Threatened mainly by forest loss and fragmentation, this endangered species is confined to central China.

Location: The Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, China

A tight grip - Nicholas More, UK

This male Bargibant's seahorse, gripping tightly with his prehensile tail to a pink sea fan, looks almost ready to pop. He will gestate for a period of approximately two weeks before giving birth.

Location: Bali Sea, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

World of the snow leopard - Sascha Fonseca, Germany

Against a backdrop of the spectacular mountains of Ladakh in northern India, a snow leopard has been caught in a perfect pose by Sascha's carefully positioned camera trap.

Thick snow blankets the ground, but the big cat's dense coat and furry footpads keep it warm.

Location: Leh, Ladakh, India

A fox's tale - Simon Withyman, UK

Simon wanted this photograph to raise awareness of the harm humans can inadvertently cause to wildlife. In the UK city of Bristol, a young red fox sustained a serious injury trying to free herself from plastic barrier netting commonly used as fencing on building sites.

After five months, she was caught, treated and released. But tragically, six months later, she was hit by a car and died.

Location: Bristol, UK

Life and art - Eduardo Blanco Mendizabal, Spain

Walking down a street in his hometown of Corella in northern Spain, Eduardo came across a wall with a graffiti cat, complete with shadow.

Knowing that common wall geckos emerge on hot summer nights to look for mosquitoes and other insects, Eduardo came back with his camera and waited patiently for the perfect picture - the hunter becoming prey to the trompe l'oeil cat.

Location: Corella, Navarre, Spain

Red and yellow - Chloe Bes, France

Near Rausu port, on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, several hundred glaucous-winged gulls waited for the return of fishermen.

The red spot on the beak develops when gulls are adult and is in part a reflection of their health. It is also an essential aid for the young: when chicks peck the spot, it triggers a regurgitati