Beverly Joubert Instagram – Every moment spent in nature is special and gives us a reason to hope and persevere on our journey to protect our planet. I’m excited to share some of my most treasured images from this year – what scenes have inspired you in 2023? Use this audio and share your pictures of the year with @natgeo using #NatGeoPOY23⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Image 1: These muscular cats moved with purpose through a crimson-soaked dawn, likely on their way to find a shady spot to settle for the day.⁣⁣ Botswana’s Okavango Delta, with its undisturbed wetlands and seasonally flooded grasslands, is one of only a few African strongholds for lions. Photographing these cats in a landscape so vast and varied is a special experience.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Image 2: Ever vigilant, this cheetah mom in Kenya’s Maasai Mara scanned the horizon for approaching threats or potential meals. Her tiny cub could do little more than watch, huddled at her feet. At this age, he’s almost entirely reliant on his mom, and will stick close to her until he’s big enough to venture off on his own.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Image 3: The natural world abounds with fascinating examples of interconnectedness. Giraffes are often accompanied by oxpeckers, industrious birds that greedily take advantage of any burrowing parasites embedded in the animals’ skin. It’s a relationship of give and take, sacrifice and reward that – like so many other examples of nature’s interdependence – helps bring balance.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Image 4: In a scene that feels almost prehistoric, a rhino grazes against a backdrop of clouds swollen with the promise of rain. In many parts of Africa, government officials and private game reserve owners have opted to dehorn their rhinos in an effort to make them less appealing to poachers. It’s becoming rarer to see rhinos in the wild with their horns still intact.⁣⁣ Image 5: No matter how many hours I spend in the company of elephants, I still experience moments of astonishment at their extraordinary social cohesion. Born into extended family groups, elephant calves are not only nurtured by their mothers, but they also receive protection from older siblings and relatives. This calf, nestled under its mother’s protective underbelly was guarded by the herd.