“Harp Seal," Gulf of St. Lawrence, Madeleine Islands, Quebec, Canada, by Gunther Riehle, Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Wüerttemberg, Germany. “Highly Honored” in the “Polar Passion” category.

Riehle says: “A few million harp seals give birth each year during February and March in the Madeleine Islands. … Some of the pups are very shy, while others may approach humans out of curiosity.”

‘Polar Bear and Cubs,’ posted earlier: