LONDON.- Wrestling komodo dragons, ethereal egrets and thirsty squirrels are among the creatures captured on camera by this year’s finalists for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015.

The exhibition opens on 16 October at the Natural History Museum in London, which runs the prestigious competition.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a global platform showcasing the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights. The competition attracted over 42,000 entries from both professionals and amateurs from 96 countries.

The exhibition will feature the much-anticipated shortlisted and winning images, which reveal the richness and diversity of life on our planet and challenge the way we think about the natural world.

Judged by a panel of industry-recognised professionals, the images are selected for their creativity, artistry and technical complexity.

The 100 shortlisted images – including the winning pictures – will also embark on an international tour spanning six continents, allowing millions of people to marvel at the beauty and variety of the natural world.

A mobile-friendly website gives exhibition visitors access to additional details on each image, a particularly useful feature during busy periods.