Nature Photographer of the Year 2019: Extraordinary photo of leaping rabbits wins annual prize

Pictures of whales, mice and apes also among finalists

A picture of a pair of rabbits bounding through the air has been awarded a top prize in the annual Nature Photographer of the Year Awards.

Winners were announced Friday for the , which saw a record 14,000 entrants from 73 different countries.

But Csaba Daroczi won the top prize of €3,000 (£2,570) for his photograph entitled "Jump", a black and white image of leaping rabbits taken at dawn near the village of Bocsa in Hungary.

Prizes were also awarded for the best photographs across a variety of categories including Birds and Mammals.

The youth category, for photographers aged between 11 to 17, was won by Giacomo Redaelli for his picture of a net of long-tailed tits awaiting feeding.

The Independent has compiled the best pictures from the contest in the gallery above.