Playful lynx wins People’s Choice in Wildlife Photographer Of The Year — 85,917 votes make public favourite
The 2026 wildlife photographer of the year People’s Choice vote produced an unexpected public favourite: a young Iberian lynx captured mid-play in an image titled “Flying Rodent. ” The photograph, taken by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan during a two-week stay in Torre de Juan Abad in Ciudad Real province, Spain, was selected from 24 shortlisted pictures after a record 85, 917 votes from wildlife and nature fans worldwide.
Why this People’s Choice win matters to Wildlife Photographer Of The Year
The public selection of the lynx image amplifies more than an arresting moment; it foregrounds conservation narratives embedded in the competition. The People’s Choice tally topped 85, 917 votes, drawn from a field that began with more than 60, 000 entries, and the shortlist presented 24 images to the public. Josef Stefan captured the winning frame while spending several days in a hide; the young lynx repeatedly tossed its prey into the air for nearly 20 minutes, a behaviour Stefan described as making the rodent appear to fly.
Beneath the frame: conservation signals and the shortlisted images
The winning photograph sits alongside four highly commended images that trace wider ecological themes. The Iberian lynx itself has moved from the brink of extinction in the early 2000s—with fewer than 100 individuals—to a population of more than 2, 000 as a result of long-term conservation and reintroduction efforts, though it remains classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Other shortlisted scenes include a mother polar bear and her three cubs pausing on the Hudson Bay coast as shrinking sea ice complicates hunting and prompts early signs of adaptation among some bears; a congregation of lesser flamingos beneath power lines at a sanctuary in Walvis Bay, Namibia; two bear cubs play-fighting on a road in Jasper National Park, Canada; and a sika deer carrying the severed head of a rival on Japan’s Notsuke Peninsula.
All five images from the public vote will be shown online and at the Natural History Museum, London until the exhibition closes on Sunday 12 July 2026, giving visitors a concentrated view of behaviour, threat and recovery captured across continents.
Voices from the field and the gallery
Photographer Josef Stefan reflected on the moment: “To me, it looked as if the rodent could fly. ” Josef Stefan, Austrian photographer, said the encounter fulfilled a long-held ambition and framed the lynx as “a living symbol of hope, ” highlighting how targeted action can change a species’ fortunes. Stefan took the picture during a focused two-week spell in a hide at Torre de Juan Abad.
Dr Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, London, commented on the public engagement: “It’s been wonderful to see all the votes coming in to choose the photograph set for display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum. ” He added: “Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year’s selection of images was truly exceptional. ” Other photographers whose work was highly commended include Alexandre Brisson for the flamingos, Christopher Paetkau for the polar bear family, Will Nicholls for the cubs in Canada, and Kohei Nagira for the sika deer image.
The prominence of the public vote within the contest underscores shifting dynamics between expert juries and audience engagement, and the people’s selection has given a singular behavioural moment an international platform.
As the exhibition continues to travel between online and gallery audiences, will the public’s choice shape how future entrants frame conservation stories and the way the wildlife photographer of the year narrative balances spectacle with species survival?
