Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Winners Announced
Federico Veronesi captures top honors with a poignant image of elephant grief.
1Top Award for Elephant Behavior
Federico Veronesi secured the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year title with a striking image captured in Namibia. The photograph depicts a female elephant carrying a deceased calf in the Huab River Valley. Jury Chair Kathy Moran highlighted the image as both an emotional gut punch and evidence of animal cognition.
2Documenting Rare Elephant Grief
Veronesi discovered the scene after noticing unusual drag marks in a dry riverbed. The female elephant carried the calf with its leg wedged between her tusk and trunk. Researchers interpret such behaviors as potential displays of grief or a developing understanding of death, observed in both African and Asian elephant populations.
3Global Competition and Participation
The 2026 edition of the competition received more than 65,000 entries from photographers worldwide. Prizes were distributed across 20 distinct categories, including specialized honors for young photographers under 17. The winning images will remain on public display at the Natural History Museum in London until July 11, 2027, showcasing diverse natural environments.
4Diverse Category Winners
Winners were selected across various fields, ranging from animal portraits to underwater photography. Notable recipients include Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas for the Rising Star Award and Loren Elliott for the Photojournalist Story Award. These photographers captured moments from diverse locations, including San Francisco, Japan, and India, reflecting the competition's broad international reach and focus.
5Urban Wildlife and Adaptation
Seth Forestson won the Urban Wildlife category by capturing a water monitor against the Bangkok skyline. These lizards have adapted to city life by utilizing food sources like catfish in Lumphini Park. The image highlights the challenge of photographing animals in action while they bask in the sun within densely populated urban environments.
6Photojournalism and Human Conflict
Francisco Negroni won the Photojournalism category with an image depicting the illegal persecution of pumas in Chile. Despite a 2025 hunting ban, human-puma conflict persists due to livestock predation. Some farmers are shifting toward puma tourism as a sustainable alternative to hunting, demonstrating the complex intersection between local wildlife conservation and economic livelihoods.
7Rare Bird Behavior Captured
Isak Pretorius documented a breeding pair of elusive shoebills in a swamp, earning the Behaviour: Birds award. These large birds, often misidentified as storks, are more closely related to pelicans and herons. With fewer than 5,300 mature individuals remaining in the wild, the species faces a concerning decline in its total global population.
8Impact of Visual Storytelling
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards continue to serve as a vital platform for documenting natural history. By highlighting both tragic behaviors and successful urban adaptations, the competition fosters public awareness. These images provide essential insights into animal cognition and the urgent conservation challenges facing various species across the globe today.
Original article: Popular Science — Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Winners Announced