Iberian Lynx Photo Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award
A captivating image of an Iberian lynx playfully tossing a rodent into the air has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Nuveen People’s Choice Award, selected from over 60,000 entries and voted for by the public. The winning photograph, titled “Flying Rodent,” was taken by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan.
The image depicts a young Iberian lynx in Ciudad Real, Spain, engaging in playful behavior with its prey before ultimately consuming it. According to Stefan, the game lasted approximately 20 minutes before the lynx carried the rodent away to eat it.
A Conservation Success Story
The Iberian lynx, once on the brink of extinction in the early 2000s, has seen a remarkable recovery thanks to dedicated conservation efforts. The population has grown to over 2,000 individuals, representing a significant success story for wildlife preservation. The Independent reports that Stefan views the lynx as “a living symbol of hope.”
Highly Commended Images
Alongside the winning photograph, four other images received “highly commended” recognition in the competition:
- Beauty Against the Beast by Alexandre Brisson (Switzerland): Flamingos contrasted against an industrial backdrop in Namibia.
- Family Rest by Christopher Paetkau (Canada): A mother polar bear and her three cubs resting on the Hudson Bay coast.
- Dancing in the Headlights by Will Nicholls (UK): Young bear cubs play-fighting in Jasper National Park, Canada.
- Never-ending Struggle by Kohei Nagira (Japan): A sika deer carrying the severed head of a rival male.
Exhibition Details
The winning image and the four highly commended photographs will be showcased at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London until it closes on Sunday, July 12, 2026. Discover Wildlife notes that the winning image will too be displayed on the gallery wall alongside the main competition winners.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year is run by the Natural History Museum, London, and is supported by Lead Corporate Sponsor, Nuveen.
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