The Natural History Museum in London shortlisted Christopher Paetkau’s photograph of a polar bear mother and her three cubs resting on muddy ground along Hudson Bay for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026. The mud-stained coats starkly illustrate how shrinking sea ice is forcing polar bears ashore, where hunting is limited. The public can vote among 24 shortlisted images through March 18, with winners announced March 25; the photos will be exhibited in London through July 2026.
Haunting Photo of Polar Bear Family on Muddy Shore Shortlisted for Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Family Rest Christopher Paetkau (Canada).Christopher Paetkau/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A quietly haunting photograph of a polar bear mother and her three cubs sprawled on bare, muddy ground along Canada’s Hudson Bay coast has been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026. Taken by photographer Christopher Paetkau, the image captures the bears pausing during a summer migration north toward the Arctic — their normally white fur stained brown by mud.
Never-ending Struggle Kohei Nagira (Japan).Kohei Nagira/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The arresting visual has become a powerful symbol of a changing Arctic. As sea ice continues to shrink because of global warming, polar bears are spending more time on land where hunting opportunities are scarce. Unlike many other bear species, polar bears do not hibernate and have historically relied on year-round access to sea ice to hunt seals. With that ice declining, these animals are forced to adapt to a harsher, unfamiliar environment.
Couple's Camouflage Artur Tomaszek (Poland).Artur Tomaszek/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shortlist and Public Vote
Precious Cargo Thomas Hunt (UK).Thomas Hunt/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The photograph is one of 24 images selected by the Natural History Museum, London, together with a panel of wildlife and photography experts for this year’s Nuveen People’s Choice Award — a prize decided entirely by public vote. Voting is open online through March 18; the winning image and four runners-up will be announced on March 25. The shortlisted photographs will be displayed at the Natural History Museum in London through July 2026.
Bond in Motion Lalith Ekanayake (Sri Lanka).Lalith Ekanayake/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Other Notable Shortlisted Images
The selection spans continents and subjects, each picture telling a distinct story about wildlife and the pressures species face worldwide. Highlights include:
- "Bond in Motion" by Lalith Ekanayake — the intense gaze of a lion-tailed macaque mother and her baby racing through India’s Western Ghats, illustrating the fragility of fragmented habitats.
- "Couple’s Camouflage" by Artur Tomaszek — a tiny male broad-headed bark spider perched on a much larger female in Thailand, waiting for her to moult before mating.
- "Never Ending Struggle" by Kohei Nagira — a stark image from Japan showing a sika deer carrying the antler-locked head of a rival after a fatal clash.
- "Precious Cargo" by Thomas Hunt — a quiet, intimate portrait of a cellar spider in England carefully carrying a cluster of eggs in her mouth.
“Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year’s selection of images is truly exceptional,” said Douglas Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, in a statement shared with Live Science.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year programme is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
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