Spanish lynx photo from 2026 that captivated the world and claimed the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award
A photograph titled “Roedor volador”, or “Flying Rodent”, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize for 2026. The image, by Austrian photographer Josef Stefan, records a single, fleeting moment in the wild.
The shot shows a young Iberian lynx in Torre de Juan Abad, Ciudad Real, Spain, tossing a mouse into the air. It offers a rare view of the lynx’s hunting instinct combined with a playful action, and has been taken up as a symbol for conservation.
Why it struck a chord with the public
The competition, hosted by The Natural History Museum in London, received over 60,000 entries from around the world. The judges selected 24 finalists. Alongside being named overall winner, “Flying Rodent” also won the People’s Choice Award, decided by tens of thousands of public votes, indicating a wide public response.
That public vote shows how uncommon it is to capture such spontaneous behaviour in the wild.
How Josef Stefan got the shot
Stefan spent two weeks travelling across Spain to find and photograph the Iberian lynx, waiting for hours with a Nikon camera and a 600 mm telephoto lens. He said he was drawn to the lynx because of its conservation status: “This is one of the most threatened species of felines in the world, and that was precisely what attracted me. It was a great challenge, because it is extremely shy and difficult to find.”
For Stefan, nature photography is also a tool for conservation: “Nature photography can raise awareness, call attention to endangered species and, therefore, promote their protection.”
The Iberian lynx, a sign of hope
The Iberian lynx (scientific name Lynx pardinus) is a rare conservation success, despite a dramatic past decline. In the early 2000s, numbers fell below 100 individuals, pushing the species close to extinction. Thanks to focused efforts, by 2025 there were over 2,400 Iberian lynx’s recovery across Spain and Portugal.
Recovery efforts, including the LIFE Iberlince programme, have focused on restoring habitats and increasing prey, particularly rabbits, the lynx’s main food. The largest concentrations are in Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Extremadura. Nevertheless, threats such as road accidents, habitat loss and prey shortages remain concerns.
What the photograph is saying
Beyond its visual appeal, “Flying Rodent” captures a rare natural moment while drawing attention to ongoing conservation needs. The image presents the lynx as an example of recovery and notes that human action remains important to protect biodiversity and prevent setbacks.
Conservationists regard the lynx’s recovery as a noteworthy case study: it shows real progress, but the work continues. “Flying Rodent” encourages viewers to look more closely at endangered species and to keep their stories in public view.