Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 winners – in pictures
This article showcases winning entries from the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, highlighting diverse animal behaviors and environmental impacts. The images capture themes ranging from elephant grief to the ecological consequences of industrial water management.
Why it matters
Photography competitions serve as a powerful medium for raising public awareness about wildlife conservation and environmental degradation.
Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 winners – in pictures | Wildlife photographer of the year | The Guardian
Wildlife photographer of the year 2026 | The Aftermath by Federico Veronesi, Italy | Winner, Behaviour: Mammals Veronesi witnessed a powerful moment of an elephant carrying a dead calf, a rare glimpse into complex animal behaviours. He was tracking elephants when he came across an unusual pattern of drag marks in a dry riverbed in Namibia. A female emerged with the calf, its leg wedged between her tusk and trunk. Behaviours centring on death have been observed in Asian and African elephants, including vocalisations, guarding the dead, inspecting and handling bones and carrying the deceased Photograph: Federico Veronesi/Wildlife photographer of the year 2026
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