Elephant Carrying Dead Calf Wins 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A heartbreaking photograph of an elephant carrying a dead calf has earned Italian photographer Federico Veronesi the title of 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

A moving encounter in Namibia

While tracking elephants in Namibia’s Huab River Valley, Veronesi discovered unusual drag marks in the sand of a dry riverbed.

Following the tracks, he came upon a female elephant carrying a dead calf. The calf’s leg was wedged between the elephant’s tusks and trunk.

Veronesi initially thought the elephant was the calf’s mother. However, after sharing the photograph with an elephant research project working in the area, he learned that this could not be confirmed.

Researchers identified the elephant as a female that had lost a calf several years ago. They said she had previously picked up the dead calves of other females.

“The most heartbreaking, fascinating and dramatic work”

For Veronesi, the encounter was deeply meaningful. “In the 20 years I’ve been photographing animals, this is the most heartbreaking, fascinating and dramatic work,” he said, “revealing the depth and complexity of animals’ emotions and feelings.”

He hopes the images will encourage people to see beyond the animals’ appearance and recognize them as individuals with their own relationships, memories and emotions. “This is a small window into the complexity of their world,” he said.

See more award-winning wildlife photography

The annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, external opens on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Natural History Museum. Keep scrolling to see more award-winning images.