On 14 October 2026, 14-year-old British photographer Oscar Whitfield was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. He lives in Zimbabwe and won with a black-and-white photograph titled “Labour of Love”, which captures a dung beetle pushing a ball of dung. Whitfield made the photograph in Zimbabwe by lying on the ground to photograph the beetle at eye level.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition
The Natural History Museum in London runs the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The competition received 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories in 2026, a record total. It includes an overall young photographer award as well as an adult overall award. The 2026 edition marked the competition’s 62nd year.
Wildlife Photography and the Winning Image
Wildlife photography records animals in their natural environments and can document their behaviour, habitats and interactions. “Labour of Love” depicts dung rolling, a behaviour in which a dung beetle shapes dung into a ball and pushes it. Whitfield photographed the beetle from ground level, with the camera positioned at the animal’s eye level. The 2026 adult and young overall winners were both recognised for black-and-white photographs; this was the first time that had occurred in the competition’s history.
Dung Beetles and Their Ecological Role
Dung beetles feed partly or entirely on dung, and many species belong to Scarabaeinae, a subfamily of Scarabaeidae. Some dung beetles roll dung into balls, while others bury it beneath the ground or use it in underground chambers. By burying dung, these beetles contribute to nutrient recycling and soil processes. Their behaviour also helps move nutrients through ecosystems.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Natural History Museum, which runs the competition, is in London.
- The 2026 competition received 65,403 entries from 121 countries and territories.
- Both overall winners in 2026 were recognised for black-and-white images for the first time in the competition’s 62-year history.
- Many dung beetle species belong to Scarabaeinae, a subfamily of Scarabaeidae.
Oscar Whitfield was 14 years old when he captured “Labour of Love”. The winning photograph features a dung beetle pushing a ball of dung.
