In brief
A stunning image titled 'Flying Rodent' taken by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan won the People's Choice Award at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition 2026. The photograph captures a young Iberian lynx interacting with its prey, reflecting the conservation success of this once critically endangered species. In a competition featuring 24 nominated photographs that garnered a record 85,917 votes, the lynx’s playful moment struck a chord with audiences across the globe.
A young Iberian lynx caught mid-play has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award 2026.
The striking image, titled Flying Rodent, was taken by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan during a two-week stay in Torre de Juan Abad, in Spain's Ciudad Real province.
Stefan spent several days in a hide when the young lynx suddenly appeared with its prey and began repeatedly throwing it into the air and catching it again. For nearly 20 minutes, the lynx remained absorbed in the behaviour, often standing on its hind legs with its gaze fixed on the rodent, creating a moment that seemed almost magical.
The moment ended when the animal lost interest, carrying its prey behind a bush to eat it. The Iberian lynx is one of the world's rarest wildcats and faced extinction in the early 2000s, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining. Thanks to long-term conservation and reintroduction efforts, the population has surged to over 2,000, but it remains classified as vulnerable.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award received a record-breaking 85,917 votes from wildlife photography and nature fans worldwide this year. In addition to Stefan's winning image, four other photographs were highly commended and will be displayed online and at London's Natural History Museum until the exhibition closes on July 12, 2026.
