Indian photographer and fine artist Sitaram Raul won the ‘Behaviour: Invertebrates’ category at the 2026 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. His photograph, titled Shifting Sand, depicts an Indian Buthacus scorpion burrowing into sand near the village of Sam in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert as sunrise approached. The competition is organised by London’s Natural History Museum and received more than 65,000 entries from around the world in 2026.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an international wildlife photography competition organised by the Natural History Museum in London. It is often referred to as the “Oscars of wildlife photography”. The 2026 overall award went to Italian photographer Federico Veronesi for The Aftermath, showing an elephant carrying its deceased calf. An exhibition of the 2026 winning photographs opened at the Natural History Museum on 16 October 2026.
Scorpions and Desert Adaptations
Scorpions are invertebrate arachnids. Raul’s photograph records a scorpion excavating a burrow in desert sand to escape intense heat. The Indian Buthacus scorpion uses its pincers to dig, while stiff, elongated bristles known as sand combs help it move across dunes without sinking. Macro photography captures small subjects at close range, making it a photographic method suited to detailed images of invertebrates.
Sitaram Raul’s Photography
Raul is based in Badlapur, Maharashtra, and has approximately 14 years of experience in wildlife and macro photography. In 2025, his photograph Nature Reclaims its Space, featuring fruit bats in Maharashtra, received a ‘Highly Commended’ distinction in the Urban Wildlife category of the same competition.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Natural History Museum in London organises the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
- The 2026 competition received more than 65,000 entries from around the world.
- Federico Veronesi of Italy won the overall 2026 award for The Aftermath.
- The 2026 winning-photographs exhibition opened on 16 October at the Natural History Museum.
The ‘Behaviour: Invertebrates’ category award went to Sitaram Raul for Shifting Sand in 2026.
