A poignant photo of a female elephant carrying the carcass of her calf wins the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

A very poignant photo showing a female elephant carrying the body of her dead calf won the grand prize in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition. This photo, titled “The Aftermath,” was taken by Italian photographer Federico Veronesi and shows a female elephant carrying her calf in Namibia, according to a statement issued by the Natural History Museum, which organizes the competition.

Cathy Moran, chair of the competition's jury, said: "This image is poignant in many ways. It is a powerful blow on an emotional level, and intellectually it constitutes evidence that animals possess cognitive abilities." Meanwhile, Oscar Whitfield won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his photo showing a dung beetle pushing its spoils.

Whitfield took the photo, which he called “Labour of Love,” while lying on the ground, as the beetle passed in front of his lens. Jury member Jasper Doust confirmed that it is a “very elaborate picture, as photographing a small object that is constantly moving represents a great challenge.”

He added: "The visual composition of the image reveals a complete story, and in doing so the image quietly shows how life cycles depend on objects whose importance we often ignore or lose sight of." The jury also selected winners in more than 12 other categories, and all of these images will form part of an exhibition that will open on October 16 at the Natural History Museum in London.

The organizers indicated that the competition received a record number of 65,403 entries from 121 countries and regions around the world. “This year’s winning images highlight the extraordinary ability that wildlife photography has to help us see nature in a different light,” explained Museum Director Doug Gore.

“Together, these images remind us that all living things play a role in the complex web of life, and that understanding and protecting the natural world is more important than ever,” he continued.