An Italian photographer has won this year’s top Wildlife Photographer of the Year award with a photo capturing a mother elephant carrying her deceased calf. The winning image, titled “The Aftermath,” was taken by Federico Veronesi in Namibia’s Huab River Valley while he was observing a family of elephants. Kathy Moran, chair of the competition’s jury, praised the photo for its emotional impact and intellectual significance, noting that it showcases the cognitive abilities of animals.
In addition to claiming the grand prize, Veronesi’s photo also secured the top spot in the Behaviour: Mammals category. The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organized by the Natural History Museum in London, aims to shed light on nature’s stories and environmental challenges. This year’s edition attracted entries from 121 countries, totaling 65,403 submissions.
The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Oscar Whitfield, a British photographer with roots in Zimbabwe. His winning photo depicts a dung beetle rolling a ball of dung, showcasing his talent at a young age. Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, a Canadian citizen living in Germany, received the Rising Star Award for his photo titled “Afternoon Snack,” capturing a robber fly preying on a flesh fly.
While there were no Canadian category winners this year, several Canadian photographers received recognition, including Shane Gross, a previous competition winner. The exhibition, featuring outstanding wildlife photography, will be displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria. Notable category winners include Amelie Davis from the U.K., Anton Sorokin from the U.S., Agorastos Papatsanis from Greece, and James Lewin from Kenya, each showcasing unique aspects of the natural world through their lens.