32 of the most haunting photos from history

History is more than just innovations and triumphs. In truth, much of it involves numerous instances of brutality, warfare, genocide, and other unsettling, regrettable realities.

Take a look below at some of the most haunting moments from history.

A starving Sudanese child crawls towards a United Nations feeding center while a vulture patiently waits for its next meal. This photo won a Pulitzer Prize, but the photographer, Kevin Carter, took his own life three months later.

The two siblings shown here are experiencing the thrill of an electrical storm at Sequoia National Park in California around 1975. Shortly after this picture was taken, they were struck by lightning. Both survived.

A councilman in the Philippines took this photo of his family on New Year’s Day in 2011, inadvertently capturing the image of his assassin. The councilman later succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head.

A photographer accidentally captures the moment a person jumped off a bridge in China.

American free diver Nicholas Mevoli moments before he passed away after a botched dive.

Young girl thought she found a lizard in the forest: When the vet sees it, he screams: “Stand back!”

In a remarkable twist of fate, a young girl stumbled upon a rare and endangered lizard in the depths of the forest, setting off an unprecedented chain of events that ultimately led to the preservation of an entire species. Millie, an avid lover of nature, stumbled upon the elusive black lizard during one of her solitary explorations in the woods. Initially hesitant, she couldn’t bear to leave the creature behind after noticing its ailing condition, prompting her to take it home for urgent veterinary care.

However, the veterinarian’s reaction upon seeing the lizard was nothing short of alarming, leaving Millie and her father bewildered and anxious. The vet’s sense of urgency, coupled with a subsequent phone call, hinted at the gravity of the situation, sparking fears of losing this precious creature. After an agonizing wait, the veterinarian returned with dire news: not only was the lizard incredibly rare, but it also belonged to a species teetering on the brink of extinction.

The lizard had managed to escape from a breeding program aimed at bolstering its dwindling population. Millie’s unexpected encounter and compassionate act of rescue inadvertently achieved a vital objective, ensuring the survival of an entire species. The veterinarian’s disclosure underscored the lizard’s pivotal role in conservation endeavors, underscoring the significance of Millie’s actions.

Though initially disheartened at the thought of parting ways with their newfound friend, Millie and her family acknowledged the lizard’s greater purpose. Their willingness to collaborate with authorities yielded promises of assistance, including educational opportunities and financial support.

This inspiring narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the potency of empathy and the profound influence that individual deeds can wield in wildlife preservation. Millie’s unwitting role in saving a species underscores the imperative of environmental stewardship and the potential for positive transformation, even amidst the most unexpected circumstances.