A poignant image (see below) of a female elephant carrying her dead calf in the Huab River Valley, Namibia, has won the top prize in this year’s wildlife photography competition.

Italian photographer Federico Veronesi claimed the overall title of wildlife photographer of the year with his shot, The Aftermath, which offers a glimpse into elephant behaviour and the possible expression of grief in animals.

Run by London’s Natural History Museum, the annual competition received a record-breaking 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories this year.

“This photograph works on so many levels,” said Kathy Moran, chair of the judging panel. “Emotionally it’s a gut punch, heartbreakingly poignant. Intellectually it’s proof that animals have cognition. This photograph says it all!”

The winner of the competition’s youth category was British photographer Oscar Whitfield, who lives in Zimbabwe. His image, Labour of Love, captures a dung beetle pushing a ball of dung across dusty ground, highlighting the remarkable effort behind the insect’s everyday work.

Now in its 62nd year, the competition continues to use photography to deepen our understanding of the natural world, capturing its beauty and complexity and the importance of protecting it.

'The Aftermath'. Winner, Behaviour: mammals and overall, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. Federico Veronesi (Italy) witnesses a powerful moment of an elephant carrying a dead calf, a rare glimpse into complex animal behaviours. Credit: Federico Veronesi, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year

For the first time in its history, both the adult and young overall winners were recognised for black and white images.

“This year’s winning photographs demonstrate the extraordinary power of wildlife photography to help us see nature differently,” said Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum. “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.”

An exhibition of the winning images launches on Friday 16 October at the Natural History Museum. More information can be found here.

Main image: ‘On the Outskirts’. Winner, photojournalist story award. Loren Elliott (US) opens a window into the lives of the often-misunderstood coyotes living in the environs of San Francisco, on the west coast of the United States. Credit: Loren Elliott, courtesy Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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