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  • Federico Veronesi wins the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year for an image captured in Namibia showing a female elephant transporting a dead calf.
  • Researchers suggest the subject may not be the mother, noting she has previously carried calves belonging to other females after losing her own years earlier.
  • The winning entry joins a diverse exhibition featuring works from young photographers and images documenting species affected by climate change and urban adaptation.

An evocative photograph depicting an elephant carrying the body of a deceased calf has secured the top honor at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for 2026. The winning image, taken by Italian photographer Federico Veronesi, captures a moment of profound grief and complexity in the animal kingdom. Veronesi documented the scene while tracking elephants in Namibia’s Huab River Valley, where he noticed unusual drag marks across the sand of a dry riverbed. Following these tracks led him to a female elephant holding the dead calf with its leg wedged between her tusk and trunk.

The narrative surrounding the photograph has evolved since its initial capture. Veronesi originally believed the adult elephant was the mother of the deceased young one. However, after sharing his work with an elephant research project operating in the region, experts provided a different perspective. Researchers identified the female as an individual who had lost her own calf several years prior. They noted that she had previously been observed picking up dead calves belonging to other females, suggesting a behavior that extends beyond maternal instinct.

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Veronesi described the encounter as the most heart-wrenching and dramatic of his two decades photographing animals. He emphasized that the image reveals the depth and complexity of emotions within animal communities. His goal with the photograph is to encourage viewers to look past physical appearances and recognize animals as individuals possessing their own relationships, memories, and feelings. He characterized the image as a small window opening into the intricate world of these creatures.

The annual exhibition for the competition opens at the Natural History Museum in London on October 16, 2026. The showcase features a wide array of award-winning images that highlight diverse aspects of wildlife and nature. Among the notable entries is a photograph by Whitfield, who won in the Young Grand Title category for ages 11 to 14. His image captures a dung beetle struggling to push a ball of dung uphill through sand in Zimbabwe, illustrating the extraordinary effort involved in seemingly simple natural tasks.

Other winning images demonstrate the accessibility and variety of wildlife photography. Davis captured an award-winning shot using only her father’s smartphone in her garden, freezing a single wingbeat of a common carder bumblebee as it prepared to land on a flower. Meanwhile, Lewin used infrared conversion technology to soften harsh light, creating a dreamy black-and-white photo of a young bull elephant spraying zebras at a waterhole. These entries underscore that compelling wildlife imagery does not always require expensive equipment or international travel.

The exhibition also highlights the impact of environmental changes on animal distribution and behavior. Sanders photographed a common octopus in south-west England, an area where sightings have increased significantly due to rising springtime sea temperatures linked to global warming. The image captures a moment of shared curiosity between the photographer and the creature peeking from behind kelp. Similarly, Pretorius documented two shoebill storks, likely a breeding pair, collecting nesting material while canoeing. Fewer than 5,300 mature individuals of this species remain in the wild.

Urban adaptation and nocturnal behaviors are also prominent themes in the selected works. Forestson captured a common water lizard against a city skyline in South or South East Asia, showcasing how these adaptable reptiles thrive in urban environments by consuming available food sources like catfish and koi. In Japan, Wu worked with biologists to photograph the courtship ritual of Abbott’s moray eels, possibly for the first time, using dim red light and a customized fisheye lens to minimize disturbance. These images collectively illustrate the resilience and complexity of wildlife across various habitats.

The competition continues to draw attention to species living in close proximity to humans or facing specific ecological challenges. A photograph from Contra Costa County, California, shows coyotes navigating life alongside large human populations in San Francisco. While these animals can prey on domestic pets, they also help control disease-carrying rodents, leading to mixed attitudes among residents. Additionally, Sorokin captured a rare glimpse of a California newt laying eggs in a murky pond, and Raul documented a scorpion burrowing into the shifting dunes of India’s Thar Desert to escape rising temperatures after sunrise.

The diversity of the winning entries reflects the broad scope of contemporary wildlife photography. From the emotional weight of Veronesi’s elephant image to the technical ingenuity required to capture elusive marine life, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the natural world. The photographs serve not only as artistic achievements but also as records of animal behavior and environmental shifts. As the exhibition opens to the public, it invites viewers to engage with these stories and consider the broader implications for conservation and our understanding of wildlife.

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