A HAUNTING photo of a deer with a rival’s severed head lodged on its antlers is up for a major award.
Some 24 striking images have been shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year – People’s Choice Award 2026.
The shocking snap, dubbed the “Never-ending Struggle” was taken in Japan by photographer Kohei Nagira.
It shows a sika deer with a male rival’s head interlocked in one of the antlers, after the pair fought to the death over females.
Their antlers became so tightly locked and wouldn’t come apart, leaving the victorious deer with only one choice – pull the head off.
A local fisherman says the deer dragged the whole body for several days before finally tearing it off.
It was living alone, yet it continued to forage for grass and branches and managed to survive the winter.
Other contenders include a remarkable shot of camouflaged broad-headed bark spiders.
It reveals a tiny male sitting on the abdomen of a well-camouflaged female, where he must wait until she moults and is ready to mate.
Female broad-headed bark spiders tend to be at least three to four times larger than males.
And another shows a well-detailed brown-throated three-toed sloth mother as she cradles her baby in her arms to shelter it from the rain.
A forth entry called “Along for the Ride” is of a cheeky juvenile swimming crab hitching a ride on a jellyfish.
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Scientists don’t fully understand the relationship between the crap and the jellyfish.
So much so, we don’t know whether the crab was merely catching a ride to save energy, using the jellyfish’s stinging tentacles as protection from predators – or using it as a platform to spy out small fish to eat.
The shortlisted images were chosen from more than 60,000 entries from 113 countries and territories, in addition to the 100 winning images announced in October 2025.
You have until 2pm on March 18 to vote for your favourite on the Natural History Museum website.
The winning image and the four runners-up will be announced a week later on March 25.
And the winner’s picture will be on display in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition too.
“No matter where you are in the world, it’s time to join the jury and vote in the Nuveen People’s Choice Award to select the photograph set for display in our flagship exhibition here at the Natural History Museum,” said Dr Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum.
“Whether showcasing fascinating behaviour or platforming a powerful story, this year’s selection of images is truly exceptional, and we can’t wait to see which one will be chosen as the public’s favourite!”
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London
