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After virtually 90,000 votes, Austrian photographer Josef Stefan’s picture (seen under) of a lynx batting a rodent like a toy took the highest prize of Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026.
“The journey to take this image was more than just another photographic adventure, it was the pursuit of a dream that had been with me for years, encountering the Iberian lynx, one of the rarest and most endangered wild cats in the world,” Stefan stated of his win. “In the early 2000s, this species was on the brink of extinction. Today, there are now over 2,000 thanks to consistent conservation efforts. 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. Winning this award and being able to platform this message is the highlight of my 30 years as a nature photographer.”
Josef has needed to {photograph} lynxes for a very long time. He was delighted when the chance arose to spend two weeks observing them from a conceal at Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain. It’s widespread for younger lynxes to play with their prey earlier than killing it. This one repeatedly threw the rodent excessive within the air and caught it once more. To Josef, it regarded as if the rodent might fly. The complete recreation lasted about 20 minutes earlier than the lynx received bored. It then took the rodent behind a bush and ate it.
Credit: Josef Stefan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year Josef Stefan
The competitors additionally honored 4 runners-up: Alexandre Brisson for a picture of a flamboyance of flamingoes in Namibia, Kohei Nagira for a picture of a post-brawl deer, Will Nicholls for a photograph of sparring bear cubs, and Christopher Paetkau for capturing a peaceful second for a polar bear household.
The celebrated photographs will go on show on the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition on the Natural History Museum, London, till the exhibition’s shut on July 12, 2026.
After a 10-hour drive, Alexandre arrived at this chook sanctuary in Walvis Bay, Namibia, simply because the solar was setting. The scent from a close-by open-air dump was overwhelming, a pointy distinction to the great thing about the lesser flamingos. He waited for the best second, hoping to seize them flying between the facility strains. When two of them lastly took off, their swish flight stood out towards the backdrop. The picture exhibits how even areas meant to guard wildlife carry the indicators of human growth.
Credit: Alexandre Brisson / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
In autumn, male sika deer combat over females by clashing their antlers. This deer received the combat, however their antlers grew to become tightly locked and wouldn’t come aside. An area fisherman says the deer dragged the entire physique for a number of days earlier than lastly tearing off its head. Kohei noticed the deer on Notsuke Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan, from late November 2020 to April 2021. It was dwelling alone, but it continued to forage for grass and branches and managed to outlive the winter. The picture exhibits life and demise sure collectively.
Credit: Kohei Nagira / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Bears are a reasonably frequent sight in Jasper National Park, Canada. But cubs are rarer, as moms are inclined to preserve them away from any threats. It’s a fascinating second, but additionally a dangerous one for the playful younger cubs silhouetted towards the glow of automobile headlights. Framed by the darkness of the encircling forest, the scene took on an virtually theatrical really feel for Will. When the lights aligned, he knew it was the picture he was after.
Credit: Will Nicholls / Wildlife Photographer of the Year WILL NICHOLLS
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