Imagine spending two weeks tracking one of the planet's most elusive cats, an animal that was practically a ghost just a couple of decades ago. Austrian photographer Josef Stefan did just that, and his patience paid off with a shot that just bagged the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026.
His winning image? An Iberian lynx, mid-air, tossing a rodent around like a toy. Stefan, a man who clearly understands the internet's love for a good cat video (even if it's a wild one), aptly titled it "Flying Rodent." Nearly 90,000 people agreed it was top-tier content.
Stefan says photographing the Iberian lynx was a dream, and for good reason. This species was teetering on the brink in the early 2000s, with numbers so low you could count them on a few sets of paws. Now, thanks to some serious conservation elbow grease, there are over 2,000. He calls them a "living symbol of hope," which, if you think about it, is a pretty profound title for an animal that just won an award for playing with its dinner.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Supporting Cast of Wildlife Wonders
While the lynx stole the show, four runners-up also got their moment in the sun, proving that nature is full of drama, beauty, and the occasional existential crisis.
There's Alexandre Brisson's shot of flamingos in Namibia, flying near power lines, which he called "Beauty Against the Beast." It's a striking reminder that even in stunning natural landscapes, humanity's footprint is never far away. Apparently, the juxtaposition of their elegance with the smell of a nearby dump was quite something. Because apparently that's where we are now.
Then Kohei Nagira gave us "Never-ending Struggle," a sika deer in Japan that won a fight but ended up with its opponent's head permanently attached to its antlers. It survived the winter like that, which is both incredibly metal and a stark reminder that even victory can come with some serious baggage.
Will Nicholls captured "Dancing in the Headlights," featuring bear cubs in Canada's Jasper National Park, silhouetted against car beams. It's a rare sight, as most mama bears are pretty keen on keeping their tiny, fuzzy anarchists out of the spotlight.
And finally, Christopher Paetkau offered a moment of serene family life with a polar bear clan. Because even apex predators deserve a quiet moment.
All these incredible images will be on display at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in London until July 12, 2026. Just try not to think about the deer with the extra head while you're there. Or do. It's a conversation starter.
