MOTHERLY LOVE IN THE JUNGLE

A LITTLE bit of monkey business could go a long way in the 2017 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest.

A candid photograph of a gorilla family in the Congo is one of many stunning entries for this year’s award and it could be the winner. The third round of editor’s picks features mountain goats on a rock, an Atlantic puffin, a lava flow in Hawaii and a close-up shot of a crocodile ... among many others brilliant photographs.

The competition which is divided into four categories (Wildlife, Landscapes, Underwater and Aerials) offers a grand prize of US $10,000 (AU $12,750), as well as a publication in National Geographic Magazine and a featured post on National Geographic’s Instagram account. The competition closes 12pm EST, November 17.

Picture: SHANNON HINSON-WITZ Shannon Hinson-Witz took this photo of new mum Kanyarunka, front, as she shields her baby from a rambunctious toddler.