Elephant carrying dead calf image wins 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

An image of a female elephant carrying her dead calf in Namibia has won the overall prize at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Titled “The Aftermath,” the photograph was captured by Italian photographer Federico Veronesi, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Natural History Museum, which organizes the competition.

Kathy Moran, chair of the competition’s jury, praised the photograph for its emotional impact and its insight into animal intelligence.

“This photograph works on so many levels. Emotionally it’s a gut punch, heartbreakingly poignant. Intellectually it’s proof that animals have cognition,” said Kathy Moran, chair of the competition’s jury, in the statement.

The competition also recognized Oscar Whitfield as the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his photograph of a dung beetle pushing its prize.

Whitfield titled the image “Labour of Love” and captured it by lying flat on the ground as the beetle moved past his lens.

Jury member Jasper Doest commended the photograph for its composition and the technical skill required to capture such a small, constantly moving subject.

“This is exceptionally well done. Photographing such a small, constantly moving subject is challenging, yet the image feels so intentional,” said jury member Jasper Doest in the statement.

“The composition reveals an entire story and by doing so the photograph quietly reveals how life cycles depend on what we often overlook or dismiss,” Doest added.

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The winning photographs will feature in an exhibition opening on October 16 at the Natural History Museum in London, England. The exhibition will also showcase winners from more than a dozen other categories selected by the competition’s jury.

Organizers said the 2026 competition attracted a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories, highlighting its global reach.

Museum director Doug Gurr said the winning images demonstrate how wildlife photography can deepen public understanding of the natural world.

“This year’s winning photographs demonstrate the extraordinary power of wildlife photography to help us see nature differently,” said Doug Gurr, director of the museum, in the statement.

“Together they remind us that every species plays a role in the complex web of life, and why understanding and protecting the natural world has never been more important.”

(CNN)