{
  "id": 14730484,
  "title": "The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 Winners Showcase Nature’s Power and Vulnerability",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-winners-showcase-natures",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T15:35:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colossal",
    "slug": "colossal",
    "url": "https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/10/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-winners/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federico Veronesi claimed the top prize in the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest for his striking black-and-white photograph of an elephant mourning her deceased calf. The image captures a rare moment in the natural world, showcasing the behaviors and emotions of these majestic creatures. Veronesi spent time observing elephants in the Huab River Valley of Namibia, eventually witnessing the adult elephant carrying her calf's leg as she grieved. The statement on elephant behaviors notes that mourning and handling bones are among the many actions observed in both Asian and African elephants, sparking debates among researchers about whether these behaviors signify grief or understanding of death.\n\nOther notable winners in various categories included Kutub Uddin's captivating image of slime molds, Loren Elliott's portfolio photographing the coyotes of San Francisco, and Amelie Davis' tender portrait of a bee landing on a flower in the 10 and Under category. Dr. Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum in London, praised the winning photographs for their unique ability to reveal nature in a new light and emphasized the importance of understanding and protecting the natural world, given its significance in sustaining life on Earth.\n\nIn total, 65,403 entries were submitted from photographers across 121 countries, marking the largest participation in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year's 62-year history. The contest featured a wide range of categories, including photojournalism, wetlands, plants and fungi, behavior, portfolios, youth categories, and more. The top 100 images from this year's competition will be on display at the Natural History Museum in London from October 16, 2026, through July 11, 2027. Francisco Negroni's powerful photo of a dead puma, \"Warning Sign,\" took the top honor in the Photojournalism category, capturing the stark beauty of the Argentine Patagonia landscape.",
  "summary": "\"This year's winning photographs demonstrate the extraordinary power of wildlife photography to help us see nature differently,\" says Dr. Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}