Lynx and rodent photograph wins Wildlife Photographer of the Yr public vote

Once pushed to the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx is now seen as a conservation success story.

The cats had lengthy been prime of Josef’s record to {photograph}. He lastly bought the chance to do that from a disguise at Torre de Juan Abad in Ciudad Real, central Spain. Josef watched the lynx toy with the rodent for about 20 minutes earlier than it bought bored and ate it. It’s frequent for lynx to play with their prey earlier than killing it.

This playful however grisly scene impressed the general public, who selected Josef’s photograph because the winner of the Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026.

Symbols of hope

The Iberian lynx was as soon as one of the crucial endangered mammals on the planet.

One of 4 species of lynx, they’re solely discovered on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. The charismatic cats are identified for his or her noticed, reddish-brown fur and black-tufted ears. These options assist them mix into the Mediterranean panorama whereas they hunt.

While their camouflage didn’t save them from close to extinction, the cats have since develop into icons of hope.

“They’re an amazing conservation success story,” says considered one of our researchers, Dr Natalie Cooper. “In the early 2000s only around 100 individuals were left in a few small pockets of habitat in Spain. Only 62 of these were mature individuals.”

Several elements brought on their steep decline. As open scrubland and oak woodland disappeared, there have been fewer locations for the lynx to dwell. Humans additionally persecuted them, wrongly considering they killed livestock.

“They actually mostly feed on rabbits,” Natalie continues. This introduced in a 3rd risk: “Their populations also suffered when big outbreaks of disease decimated rabbit populations during the twentieth century.”

Conservationists had identified for many years that lynx confronted an unsure future. But when the species was declared Critically Endangered in 2002, they actually targeted their efforts. Nature-based options included creating corridors between habitats, habitat restoration and defending their rabbit prey.

Scientists additionally ran a extremely profitable captive breeding and reintroduction programme. Several cats had been introduced into captivity so they may begin new populations. Before they may very well be reintroduced to the wild, the ensuing kittens had been skilled to hunt and, crucially, keep away from folks.

As a consequence, seven new Iberian lynx populations had been established throughout Spain and Portugal. The variety of particular person cats rose by 1,500% over 20 years.

“This is a remarkable achievement that required collaboration among scientists, government agencies, NGOs and local communities,” says Natalie.

“A true example of what we can do if we work together.”

Josef says that taking this profitable photograph was the realisation of a dream that has been with him for years.

“The Iberian lynx is a living symbol of hope, showing what can happen when we take responsibility, act consciously and focus our attention where it’s most needed,” says Josef. “Winning this award and being able to platform this message is the highlight of my 30 years as a nature photographer.”

Browse the highest 5 photographs from the competitors

This yr’s runners-up embrace a bunch of flamingos standing out in opposition to an industrial backdrop of energy traces and a household of polar bears resting in the summertime warmth.

You can go to our on-line gallery to see these photographs alongside photos from earlier People’s Choice competitions.