TJ Sampson

Researchers Accidentally Win Drone Footage of the Year. A wildlife team in Africa had begun using drones for the first time to study alpha male lions. Because the project required tracking them 24 hours a day, the drones were set on autopilot overnight, with researchers only landing them to swap batteries. The goal was simple: capture the daily rhythms of dominant males patrolling territory, fending off rivals, and surviving the cold. It wasn’t until the very last morning of the study that something unusual caught their eyes. As they checked the live feed before packing up, they saw a small wildcat curled tightly into the mane of the alpha male, fast asleep against his chest. The lion didn’t move, allowing the smaller cat to rest on him as if it belonged there. Back at camp, the team reviewed all the footage and were stunned. Every single night, while the drones flew on autopilot, the wildcat had been curling up with the lion. For days, the king of beasts had quietly shared his warmth with a tiny cousin. When the footage went public, it spread across the world, sparking debates among scientists about survival instincts and tolerance in predators. Soon after, the remarkable images earned the team Drone Footage of the Year.