A breathtaking image of a rare Iberian lynx in action highlights conservation success and global fascination with endangered species.
MADRID: A striking photograph of a rare Iberian lynx mid-hunt in central Spain has won the 2026 People’s Choice Award in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, organizers announced.
Captured by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan in Ciudad Real province, the image shows a young lynx tossing a mouse into the air and catching it with precision. Stefan said he spent days in concealment before witnessing the rare predator, which played with its prey for nearly 20 minutes.
“The lynx stood on its hind legs, fully focused, almost making the mouse appear airborne,” he said.
The Iberian lynx, once on the brink of extinction with fewer than 100 individuals in the early 2000s, has rebounded to over 2,000 due to long-term conservation and breeding programs. Despite the recovery, it remains classified as an endangered species.
This year’s competition drew more than 85,000 votes from wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. Alongside the winning image, four others — featuring polar bear cubs, flamingos, playful bears and a deer — received special recognition.
All selected photographs will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum through July 2026, offering visitors a vivid glimpse into the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
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