Rare White Humpback Whale Calf Wins Top 2026 Nature Photo Prize

A breathtaking image of a rare white humpback whale calf swimming alongside its mother has won the top prize at the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards. The striking photograph, taken in Tonga, captures one of nature's rarest sights—a calf with albinism, a condition seen in as few as one in 40,000 humpback whales.

The winning shot was taken by photographer Jono Allen, who received a $1,000 cash prize for his work. The calf, named Māhina, was first spotted during the summer of 2024 in the waters of Vava'u, Tonga. Albinism in humpback whales is so uncommon that sightings like this are considered extraordinary.

The 2026 awards drew entries from 51 countries, showcasing the diversity of global wildlife. Among the other category winners were a female gorilla watching a butterfly in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a Namaqua chameleon enduring a sandstorm in Namibia's Namib Desert, and a polar bear inspecting discarded electronics in Manitoba, Canada.

Humpback whales, once heavily hunted, have seen their numbers recover significantly. By 2018, their population had grown to around 135,000, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to classify them as a species of 'least concern.' However, their migration patterns in the southern hemisphere are shifting due to warming ocean temperatures, which affect food availability.

The awards were supported by Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative, which partners with CNN to raise awareness about sustainability and environmental protection.

Māhina's rare appearance highlights the wonders of marine life, while the awards themselves draw attention to both conservation successes and ongoing challenges. With humpback whale populations rebounding but facing new threats from climate change, such images serve as a reminder of the need to protect fragile ecosystems.