Elephant Grief Photo Tops Record-Breaking 2026 Wildlife Awards
Italian photographer Federico Veronesi won the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year with 'The Aftermath,' a black-and-white image of a female elephant carrying a dead calf in Namibia. The competition, run by London's Natural History Museum, received a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries. The winning image highlights complex animal emotions and has sparked debate on elephant grief and conservation needs.
Key points
- Federico Veronesi won the grand prize for 'The Aftermath,' depicting an elephant carrying a deceased calf in Namibia's Huab River Valley.
- The 62nd edition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition received a record 65,403 entries from 121 countries.
- Judging panel chair Kathy Moran described the image as 'emotionally a gut punch' and proof of animal cognition.
- The competition featured 19 categories, with winners selected from a global pool of submissions.
- Public voting for People's Choice Awards remains open, and the winning gallery will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum from October 16, 2026, to July 2027.
Background
The 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year marks the 62nd iteration of the annual competition hosted by the UK's Natural History Museum. Previous years have seen diverse winners, including a gannet dive in 2026's Bird Photographer of the Year sub-award. This year's record-breaking entry count reflects growing global interest in wildlife conservation and the emotional impact of animal behavior photography.
How outlets are covering it
Gizmodo highlights the emotional resonance of the winning image and notes the record-breaking entry count, while also featuring other highly commended entries like a rhino-oxpecker interaction. National Geographic emphasizes the technical and narrative depth of Veronesi's work, noting his decision to present the image in black and white to heighten emotional connection. The Guardian provides a broader overview of category winners, including underwater, wetland, and invertebrate behavior, while the BBC focuses on the scientific implications of the elephant's behavior, linking it to potential grief and trauma in Namibia's desert elephant population. All sources agree on the significance of the winning image but differ in emphasis: Gizmodo and National Geographic focus on artistic merit, while the BBC and The Guardian highlight conservation and behavioral science.
Why it matters
The winning image underscores the emotional complexity of elephants and raises questions about their capacity for grief, potentially influencing public perception and conservation efforts. The record-breaking entry count reflects growing global engagement with wildlife photography, while the exhibition at the Natural History Museum will bring these stories to a wider audience, fostering empathy and awareness for endangered species like Namibia's desert elephants.
What to watch
The winning gallery will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London from October 16, 2026, to July 2027. Public voting for People's Choice Awards remains open. Conservationists, including Christin Winter of Elephant Human Relations Aid, are continuing research into the causes of high calf mortality among Namibia's desert elephants, with a project running until 2028 to analyze environmental and stress-related factors.
- This Bird Has Seen Some Things—and the Photo Just Won an Award Gizmodo
- 16 Striking Photos From This Year’s Best Wildlife Photographers National Geographic
- Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 winners – in pictures The Guardian
- 'A window into its soul': The rare elephant behaviour that reveals the depths of their emotions BBC
- Incredible winning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 CNN
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