Federico Veronesi's photo of grieving elephant wins top wildlife award
Italian photographer Federico Veronesi captured a mourning African elephant carrying its dead calf, and the image was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
While documenting elephants in Namibia, Federico Veronesi observed peculiar drag marks in a dried riverbed and traced them to a herd. There he found a female African elephant cradling her dead calf, a behavior noted among both African and Asian elephants. His photograph was chosen as the winning entry in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, a prestigious competition run by the Natural History Museum in London.
Jury chair Kathy Moran praised the picture for its visceral emotional resonance and its evidence of animal cognition. Museum director Doug Gurr said the winning images demonstrate how wildlife photography can reshape our perception of nature and underscore the importance of conservation. The award marks the 62nd edition of the competition, which receives submissions from photographers worldwide.
Why it matters
The photo highlights complex animal emotions and draws attention to wildlife conservation.
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