Feb 24, 2026, 11:28Feb 24, 2026, 11:28
A photo of a rare white humpback whale calf with its mother wins the top prize at the World Nature Photography Awards 2026. The extraordinary shot was taken by Australian marine photographer Jono Allen. The photo was taken in the tropical waters of Vava’u in the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific
Albinism is extremely rare in humpback whales – it only occurs in about 1 in 40,000 individuals. The Australian photographer described the day he photographed the duo as “a memory that will stay with me forever” and “a truly life-changing encounter.”
Grand Prize Winner of the World Nature Photography Awards 2026image: Jono Allen
The jury chose the picture not only because of its rarity, but also because it shows hope for the protection of the species. “Such rare sightings give new hope and show what is possible when nature conservation is promoted and wild animals can thrive,” writes the organization.
The Briton Matthew Sharp won second prize in the “Underwater” category.
A flock of penguins moves through the sea off the Antarctic Peninsula. Image: Matthew Sharp
The American Mary Schrader wins with her animal portrait of a young gorilla girl watching a butterfly.
Taken in a national park in Uganda.image: Mary Schrader
In the “Mammals” category, Vaidehi Chandrasekar from Singapore won with a picture of a giraffe.
In Makgadikgadi, Botswana, a single giraffe was drinking at the waterhole. As she stood up, the drops splashed in the golden light of the setting sun. Image: Vaidehi Chandrasekar
The Namib Desert is one of the harshest places on earth: no surface water, temperatures over 45 degrees and constant sandstorms. Still, there is life – like the Namaqua chameleon, which endures the wind and flying pebbles. Dewald Tromp from South Africa observed the chameleon from an off-road vehicle and won in the “Amphibians and Reptiles” category.
Lives in one of the harshest places in the world: the Namaqua chameleon. image: Dewald Tromp
A brown bear plunges into a body of water in Katmai National Park in Alaska to prey on one of the many sockeye salmon. The picture by Charlie Wemyss-Dunn from Great Britain wins in the “Animals in their habitat” category.
The hungry brown bear hunts salmon in Alaska.image: Charlie Wemyss-Dunn
In the people and animals category, the picture of a curious bull moose by Deena Sveinsson wins. In Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, photographers woke up to a winter-covered sage landscape after a snowfall. As the bull moose ate their breakfast, one curiously approached the humans and inspected the camera equipment they had left behind.
Rare image: A bull moose in front of a camera lens. image: Deena Sveinsson
You can find all the other winners here. (cst)
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