Among humpback whales, which can grow upwards of 60 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons, instances of albinism are exceedingly rare. But when these otherworldly all-white mammals appear—such as the beloved Migaloo that was first spotted in 1991 off Australia’s east coast—they inspire wonder.Marine photographer Jono Allen captured a unique shot of a baby white humpback being nudged by its mother, taking the top prize in the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA), in addition to winning the Underwater category.© Miki Spitzer, “The eye of the dragon.” Gold in the Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments categoryThe seventh edition of WNPA continues to highlight the diversity, beauty, and inherent vulnerability of our planet’s wildlife and ecosystems. From Mary Schrader’s tender portrait of a gorilla observing a butterfly to Miki Spitzer’s enigmatic drone photo of a mineral pool that looks like the close-up of a dragon’s eye, all of the winning photos emphasize curiosity and awe.The contest is now accepting entries for its 2027 edition. See the winners’ gallery and learn more on WNPA’s website.© Mary Schrader, “Shared wonder.” Gold in the Animal Portraits category© Dewald Tromp, “Stoicism in a sandstorm.” Gold in the Behavior – Reptiles category© Hemin Patel, “Home building.” Bronze in the Behavior – Birds category© Charlie Wemyss, “Dunn Splash.” Gold in the Animals in Their Habitat category© Deena Sveinsson, “The wildlife photographer.” Gold in the People and Nature category© Harry Skeggs, “Between the cracks.” Bronze in the Animals in Their Habitat category© Eduardo Salvador Cabrera, “The nectar drop.” Bronze in the Behavior – Invertebrates category© Stuart Chape, “Glacial blue.” Silver in the Planet Earth’s Landscapes and Environments category© Aimee Jan “Green sea turtle surrounded by glass fish.” Bronze in the Underwater category© Michael Stavrakakis, “Bear hug.” Silver in the Behavior – Mammals categoryDo stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A Rare White Whale Sighting Tops the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards appeared first on Colossal.