Photo of the Day
Each day, we highlight one extraordinary photograph from National Geographic. Check out more of our photos here.
A black cat sits atop a pole watching over a heard of alpacas as the icy Andes mountains loom in the distance.
September 14, 2026 | Andes Watchcat
A black cat rests alongside alpacas in the icy Andean landscape of Cojata near Puno, Peru. Puno is one of the seven regions in Peru responsible for approximately 80 percent of the world’s alpaca fiber production. Photographer Uriel Montúfar captured the image while working on a documentary series about high-altitude Andean alpaca herders, also known as alpaqueros. “What struck me most was the unexpected harmony and character in that scene,” he tells National Geographic. “This small domestic cat standing watch over the herd in such a cold, harsh environment felt both humorous and poetic.”
