While we’ll always be big fans of wildlife photography in general, there’s nothing quite like seeing hundreds, thousands and even millions of animals congregating like this. Whether these photographers have captured animal migrations, where major animal groups travel long distances in search of food, or whether these animals have come together to form huge breeding colonies, one can’t help but sit back in awe at the way Mother Nature works her magic.
In the stunning photo above, German conservation photographer Florian Schulz captured thousands of stingrays swimming through the ocean in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
As he states, “During an aerial expedition I came across something I had never seen before. Not even my pilot, who has surveyed this area for 20 years, had seen anything like it. As we got closer we started to discover its nature: an unprecedented congregation of rays. The group was as thick as it was wide, all heading towards the same direction. I have asked around why this took place but no one has been able to explain it to me. After such a unique sighting, I realise there are so many marvels in the oceans that we are yet to understand.”
Monarch Butterflies 
Photo by WWL
Bats 
Photo by Greg du Toit
Wildebeest 
Photo by Burrard Lucas
Elephants 
Photo by Nuria Ortega
Snow Geese 
Photo by Phil Goble
Sardines 
Photo by Alexander Safanov
Long-tailed Ducks 
Photo by Simon Perkins
King Penguins 
Photo by Andy Rouse
Walruses 
Photo by Chukot-TINRO
Flamingos 
Photo by Martin Harvey
Beluga Whales 
Each year in July, hundreds of beluga whales congregate to mate and give birth in the mouth of the Cunningham River in Canada. During high tide, they swim upstream with their backs barely covered by the shallow water and their stomachs rub the small rocks of the riverbed.
“Flying in a Twin Otter aircraft with the door off, I was able to achieve a clear shot of this natural wonder. It was one of the highlights of my career as a professional photographer,” stated Norbert Rosing.