Key Facts

• The winning photo was taken in Namibia’s Huab River Valley.
• It shows a female elephant carrying a dead calf with its leg caught between her tusk and trunk.
• Researchers identified the elephant as one who had lost a calf years ago and sometimes carries calves from other females.
• Veronesi has been photographing animals for 20 years and called this moment very emotional and meaningful.
• The competition includes various categories and age groups, with photos from different countries.
• Other notable photos include a dung beetle in Zimbabwe and a bumblebee taken with a smartphone in the UK.
• The exhibition will open at the Natural History Museum on October 16, 2026.
• Some photos show animal behavior influenced by changes in the environment, like octopuses appearing more often in England.