Cheetah cubs climbing a tree and a leopard eating a plastic bottle among Brit photographer’s best pics of 2019

British wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein has chosen his best pictures of the year.

Polar bears, cheetahs, leopards, humpback whales, jaguars and pumas have all been captured through his viewfinder this year – with a snap of two adorable tiger cubs and a shocking image of a big cat biting down on a plastic bottle taking the top spots.

Cover Images

Two adorable cheetah cubs climb tree, in Olare Conservancy, Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images

British wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein has captured shocking scenes of a young jaguar playing with a discarded plastic drinks bottle in the wild, with the poignant snap making it into his 2019 roundup[/caption]

Paul explains: “I spend months, even years, researching destinations and animals yet even with this sort of dedication and fieldcraft, there will never be a perfect photograph.

“However, no true wildlife photographer would want it any other way.

“I like the challenge, the hardship and even the physical difficulties.

“The patience required is a must not a virtue as is the discipline and concentration. It is also important that you must be prepared to fail.

“An ambitious yet flawed image always has more impact with me than yet another safe one.”

The animal lover added: “Sadly, many of these animals are threatened or even endangered which is why I have spent much of the last 20 years raising money for various charities associated with them.”

Paul is running the London and Everest Marathon next year dressed in a nine-foot Bengal tiger suit to help raise money for the majestic cats.

Cover Images

Adelie penguins, Hope Bay, Antarctica as they prepare to dive into the freezing depths[/caption]

Cover Images

A mum shows her cups who’s boss in this snap of a leopard family taken at Olare Conservancy, Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images

Paul Goldstein captured these stunning images of young tiger brothers play-fighting in water. He spotted the three 11-month-olds having a cool bonding session in the heat of Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India in April[/caption]

Cover Images

Magical images show lions and cheetahs seemingly at the end of the rainbow – British wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein shot them at Kenya’s Masai Mara in June, he said: ‘There was a short stand-off between a cheetah family and the Acacia pride of lions in Mara North Conservancy’ That day, the animals really were the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”[/caption]

Cover Images

A cub latches to her mother’s back as she perches atop Antarctic snow[/caption]

Cover Images

A black bear wading into Anan Creek, Alaska[/caption]

Cover Images

Day-old Gentoo chicks nestle into their parent’s feathers in South Shetlands, Antarctica[/caption]

Cover Images

A Bengal tiger peers through leaves in Bandhavgarh National Park, India[/caption]

Cover Images

A snap of a powerful desert elephant in Namibia[/caption]

Cover Images

A cheetah chases a hare in Mara, North Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images

A playful lion cub and his mum in Mara, North Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images

An elephant under stormy skies, at the end of the rainbow, North Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images

A leopard family perched in a tree in Kenya[/caption]

Cover Images