An Italian photographer has been awarded the top prize at this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition for his poignant image capturing a mother elephant mourning her dead calf. Federico Veronesi’s photograph, titled “The Aftermath,” was taken in Namibia’s Huab River Valley while he was observing elephants and noticed a female elephant carrying her calf’s leg.

Kathy Moran, the chair of the competition’s jury, praised the photo for its emotional impact and intellectual significance, highlighting the demonstration of animal cognition. Veronesi’s image not only won the grand prize but also secured the top spot in the Behavior: Mammals category.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organized by the Natural History Museum in London, aims to raise awareness about environmental issues through nature-centric storytelling. This year’s 62nd edition received over 65,000 entries from 121 countries and territories, honoring both adult and young photographers.

Among the winners was Oscar Whitfield, a young British photographer, who won the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award for his captivating photo of a dung beetle at work. Another notable mention went to Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, a Canadian citizen living in Germany, who won the Rising Star Award for his striking image of a robber fly preying on a flesh fly.

While no Canadian photographers clinched category wins this year, several Canadian entries received high commendations. The exhibition showcasing the winning photographs will be displayed at various locations, including the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto and the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria.

The competition also recognized photographers from different age groups and categories, such as Amelie Davis from the U.K., Anton Sorokin from the U.S., Agorastos Papatsanis from Greece, and James Lewin from Kenya, showcasing a diverse range of stunning wildlife and nature photography.