Incredible nature

004_35_Greg_du_Toit_(South_Africa)-Essence_of_elephants.jpg — Greg du Toit/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

South African photographer Greg du Toit has been named 2013's Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image "Essence of Elephants" taken in Botswana's Northern Tuli Game Reserve.

More than 40,000 photographs were submitted to the contest which is run by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide.

Click on to see more stunning images from the competition.

010_93_Udayan_Rao_Pawar_(India)-Mothers_little_headful.jpg — Udayan Rao Pawar/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"Mother's little headful," was taken by 14-year-old Udayan Rao Pawar on the banks of the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, India. Pawar was recognized as 2013's Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

28_Paul_Souders_(USA)-The_water_bear.jpg — Paul Souders/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"The water bear," by Paul Souders

Hudson Bay, Canada

002_04_Connor_Stefanison_(Canada)-Lucky_pounce.jpg — Connor Stefanison/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"Lucky pounce," by Connor Stefanison

001_01_Connor_Stefanison_(Canada)-The_flight_path.jpg — Connor Stefanison/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"The flight path," by Connor Stefanison

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

005_41_Isak_Pretorius_(South_Africa)-Sticky_situation.jpg — Isak Pretorius/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"Sticky situation," by Isak Pretorius

007_53_Luis_Javier_Sandoval_(Mexico)-Dive_buddy.jpg — Luis Javier Sandoval/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"Dive buddy," by Luis Javier Sandoval

Caribbean Sea, Mexico

008_72_Sergey_Gorshkov_(Russia)-The_cauldron.jpg — Sergey Gorshkov/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"The cauldron," by Sergey Gorshkov

Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

009_83_Jasper_Doest_(The_Netherlands)-Snow_moment.jpg — Jasper Doest/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"Snow moment," by Jasper Doest

48_Joe_McDonald_(USA)-The_spat.jpg — Joe McDonald/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

"The spat," by Joe McDonald

Pantanal, Brazil