20 Of The Most Iconic And Showstopping Animal Photos Of 2022

2022 is about to come to a close, and we feel the need to say thank you to the one thing that was consistently absolutely awesome this year: animals. Just that. All we needed to see to get a boost of good vibes, a dose of inspiration, something to uplift our mood, was a bunch of awesome animal photos. And there have been so many this year. It seems that people really needed the distraction - and the reminder that there are some things in this world that will forever and always be amazing.

Today, right before the year ends, we've put together the best, most iconic and breathtaking animal pictures of the year. These are the kind of animal pictures that are worth 1000 words, that cannot be captured easily. We promise you that, as you scroll, you will find yourself pausing, doing double takes, thinking about what you're seeing. Enjoy, friends, and have an amazing new year!

01
"The shining eyes of gators in the Everglades"

via u/gsuhrie

Somehow, this photo is both incredibly beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Had we walked past this pond, chances are that we wouldn't have even realized that these are gators. We would have stopped to admire the beauty of the moment. But it's exactly the inherent danger in the tranquility of this photo that makes it so dang eerie - and amazing.
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02
"A turtle reawakening from hibernation carrying a mini world on its back"

via u/therra123

No wonder that so many mythologies in the world believe - or used to - that the world was on the back of a turtle's back. When we look at this creature, that's all we can see. This animal is carrying a small habitat on its back. We're sure that there are tiny animals living on it right there in this picture, and personally, we think that's totally awesome.
03
"Chimps and Gorillas form active friendships in the wild, with individuals clearly recognizing one another"

via u/thebigchil73
04
"Sailfin Lizard from the Philippines"

via u/Mericanjoe1776
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05
"This rare Zebra foal was born with spots instead of stripes"

via u/thicklyLevitate926
06
"Big boy polar bear on Barter Island, Alaska"

via reddit
07
"Saw a bunch of mallards the other day. One was suspicious of me."

via u/future_beach_bum
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08
"Close up of a Dragonfly"

via u/therra123
09
"Be sure to watch where you step."

via u/Molly107
10
"A newly hatched baby snapping turtle"

via u/therra123
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11
"Cheetah licks the toe of photographer to say hi."

via Caters News Agency, u/DoreenNicole
12
"The Golden Plover is a bird that hatch with the power of camouflage fully activated. These fluffy birds match the mossy Arctic nesting site perfectly."

via u/Scientiaetnatura065
13
"Long exposure of fireflies in my back yard"

via u/ryanheffron
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14
"A very, very old buck I photographed."

via u/IWConcepts
15
"Feathers on Display by a Barn Owl"

via reddit
16
"A Fox watching a drone in the sky"

via u/CaspianRemi
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17
"Hawfinch with snowflake on its head - shot that I took in backyard."

via u/Piotr_Gorny
18
"The kakapo also known as The owl parrot, is the only non-flying member of its species alive today."

via u/amonaloli12
19
"Newborn hedgehog puppies"

via u/therra123
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20
"A Hoard of eels"

via u/therra123