Lynx Hunting Rodent Wins Wildlife Photographer People's Choice Award
The 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has announced its People's Choice winner, with a captivating image of an Iberian lynx hunting a rodent in Spain taking the top honor. Selected from more than 60,000 entries, the winning photograph was chosen through a public vote, highlighting the power of nature photography to engage and inspire audiences worldwide.
Winning Image Captures Lynx in Action
The winning photograph, titled Flying Rodent by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan, depicts a young Iberian lynx tossing a rodent into the air before killing and eating it in Ciudad Real, Spain. This dramatic moment, which lasted approximately 20 minutes before the lynx took its prey behind a bush, was selected from a shortlist of 24 images curated by a panel of judges. The image not only showcases wildlife behavior but also underscores the successful conservation efforts for the Iberian lynx, which has recovered from near extinction in the early 2000s to a population exceeding 2,000 today.
Highly Commended Photographs Showcase Global Wildlife
In addition to the winning image, four other photographs were highly commended in the public vote, each offering a unique glimpse into the natural world:
- Beauty Against the Beast by Swiss photographer Alexandre Brisson: A group of flamingos stands out against the industrial backdrop of power lines at a bird sanctuary in Walvis Bay, Namibia, creating a striking contrast between nature and human infrastructure.
- Family Rest by Canadian photographer Christopher Paetkau: A mother polar bear and her three cubs rest in the summer heat along the Hudson Bay coast in Canada, highlighting the challenges faced by Arctic wildlife in a warming climate.
- Dancing in the Headlights by UK photographer Will Nicholl: A silhouetted pair of young bear cubs rear up and play-fight in the middle of a quiet road in Jasper National Park, Canada, capturing a moment of youthful exuberance in the wild.
- Never-ending Struggle by Japanese photographer Kohei Nagira: A sika deer carries the interlocked severed head of a rival male that died after a battle on the Notsuke Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan, illustrating the intense competition for survival in nature.
Exhibition and Public Engagement
The winning image and the four highly commended photographs will be displayed on voting screens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in London until it closes on July 12. The People's Choice winner will also be featured on the gallery wall alongside the main competition winners, which were announced in October. This public vote component allows nature enthusiasts to participate directly in celebrating wildlife photography, fostering a deeper connection to conservation issues and the beauty of the natural world.
The competition, organized by the Natural History Museum, continues to draw global attention to wildlife conservation through the lens of photography, encouraging both amateur and professional photographers to capture and share the wonders of nature. With over 60,000 entries this year, it reflects a growing public interest in environmental awareness and the artistic portrayal of wildlife.
