News

14 funny pictures from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

David BenjaminNovember 14, 2025

***UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THUR 23 OCT 12.01 AM BST*** NIKON COMEDY WILDLIFE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED*** photographer Mark Meth-Cohn. (UK) Time to party!' This photograph was taken during a trip to Rwanda earlier this year, where we spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. It was pouring with rain that day, by the time we reached the group we were completely soaked, as were they. Despite the weather, this mother proudly cradled her baby for us to see, a tender moment of affection that was both heartwarming and humorous, especially since the infant looked far less enthusiastic about all the affection it was getting. — Humour is not limited to just humans. Other animals can be just as funny — and one competition sets out to prove just that. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards has announced its finalists for 2025, and this year also marks 10 years since the award first came about. When founder Paul Joynson-Hicks was living in East Africa and working as a wildlife photographer, he was looking through his photographs when he came across several that made him laugh out loud. Soon after, in 2015, The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was born from Paul’s small office in Usa River on the slopes of Mt Meru in northern Tanzania. The idea is to engage people with the threats facing these same animals, while showing just how funny the can be. So, here are some of the finalists for 2025, with the winners due to be announced on December 9 (Picture: Mark Meth-Cohn /Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards)

Smile, you’re being photographed

***UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THUR 23 OCT 12.01 AM BST*** NIKON COMEDY WILDLIFE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED*** photographer Valtteri Mulkahainen. (Finland) 'Smile, you're being photographed'. When I was photographing bears, this one year old bear cub saw it and started smiling at me. Apparently he had already had to pose in front of photographers. — Photographer Valtteri Mulkahainen, from Finland, said of this picture: ‘When I was photographing bears, this one year old bear cub saw it and started smiling at me. Apparently he had already had to pose in front of photographers.’ (Picture: Valtteri Mulkahainen)

Peek a Boo

***UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THUR 23 OCT 12.01 AM BST*** NIKON COMEDY WILDLIFE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED*** .photographer Henry Szwinto. (UK) 'Peek a Boo' A Sri Lankan Elephant playing peek a boo with his ears — Taken by Henry Szwinto, from the UK, this picture shows a Sri Lankan Elephant playing peek a boo with his ears. Elephants are know for being playful with other species, as well as other elephants. (Picture: Henry Szwinto)

Squirrel airborne: surrender mode

***UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THUR 23 OCT 12.01 AM BST*** NIKON COMEDY WILDLIFE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED*** photographer Stefan Cruysberghs. (Belgium) Squirrel airborne: surrender modeC259 A few years ago, a simple wooden hide was available for rent in a forest near my home, known for its lively red squirrel population. I had visited the spot several times before, and eventually began experimenting with capturing squirrels mid-jump. This resulted in countless blurry shots, but also a few fun and quirky moments?including the one I submitted. Sadly, the forest has since been cut down due to an infestation of bark beetles, but I still cherish the images I captured of these agile and comical little acrobats. I thought this flying squirrel looks like it?s throwing in the towel mid-air?arms wide, total surrender! — Belgium photographer Stefan Cruysberghs said: ‘A few years ago, a simple wooden hide was available for rent in a forest near my home, known for its lively red squirrel population. I had visited the spot several times before, and eventually began experimenting with capturing squirrels mid-jump. This resulted in countless blurry shots, but also a few fun and quirky moments—including the one I submitted. Sadly, the forest has since been cut down due to an infestation of bark beetles, but I still cherish the images I captured of these agile and comical little acrobats. I thought this flying squirrel looks like it’s throwing in the towel mid-air—arms wide, total surrender!’ (Picture: Stefan Cruysberghs)

Now which direction is my nest?

UK photographer Alison Tuck snapped this at Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, UK, as this poor gannet got a face-full of grass. She said: ‘A windy day on Bempton Cliffs during the nesting season.’ (Picture: Alison Tuck)

High Five

***UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL THUR 23 OCT 12.01 AM BST*** NIKON COMEDY WILDLIFE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED*** photographer Mark Meth-Cohn. (UK) Time to party!' This photograph was taken during a trip to Rwanda earlier this year, where we spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. It was pouring with rain that day, by the time we reached the group we were completely soaked, as were they. Despite the weather, this mother proudly cradled her baby for us to see, a tender moment of affection that was both heartwarming and humorous, especially since the infant looked far less enthusiastic about all the affection it was getting. — Photographer Mark Meth-Cohn, from the UK, took this joyful picture of a gorilla in Rwanda. He said: ‘This photograph was taken during a trip to Rwanda earlier this year, where we spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. On this particular day, we came across a large family group gathered in a forest clearing, the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair; pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image.’ (Picture: Mark Meth-Cohn)

The Frog Prince of the Grape Vine

Photographer Beate Ammer from Australia took this picture of a green tree frog in her garden. She said: ‘Meet the Frog Prince of my little garden — he’s been lazing around guarding my grape vine, waiting for a kiss, but I think he’s just here for the grapes. This charming amphibian seems to have mistaken the vine for his royal court, lounging among the plump fruit as if he’s the monarch of the orchard.’ (Picture: Beate Ammer)

Great Hair Day

This umbrella bird from Brazil was snapped by David Fetters, who is a UK photographer. He said: ‘The subject of the photograph is an Amazonian Umbrellabird – Cephalopterus ornatus. I photographed it in a forest in the Pantanal in Brazil. It seemed to be unwell and unable to fly so contact was made with a vet in a town some distance from where I was and they came out and took it away for treatment – I hope it had a good outcome. In flight and when foraging the crest of feathers on the head that obscure the face when pushed forward are pushed back into a spike – when forward it can only make one laugh – looks ridiculous.’ (Picture: David Fetters)

It is tough being a duck

John Speirs, a UK photographer, snapped this golden eye in Scotland, and said: ‘This picture was taken on a very dull day, when the duck was just sitting on the surface of the sea loch a shaft of light broke through the clouds to light him up and he seemed to go into holiday mood.’ (Picture: John Speirs)

Baptism Of The Unwilling Convert

This poor green frog in the USA was snapped by a photographer who said: ‘One morning I was hanging out with my camera along the edge of a pond near our home. I noticed two frogs fighting and took a bunch of shots of them. This photo captures two male green frogs, which are native to Maine. They usually have greenish-brown on their backs, with dusky bars on their hind legs and a lighter underside. Males may have a yellow throat, while females’ are white. They make a throaty sound like a ‘boink’. In this photo, these two male frogs are jockeying for territory. They will engage in physical confrontations like wrestling to defend valuable habit that will attract females. I took several shots of them, but this one in particular amused me because it looked like one was trying to baptize the other against his will.’ (Picture: Grayson Bell)

Smiler

Australian photographer Jenny Stock said: ‘ Whilst on a scuba dive in the Philippines, this little fish kept popping its head out of its home, a hole in the patterned coral. I took a few photos and I loved its cheeky face smiling back at me. What an expressive looking face! This cheerful looking species, the bluestriped fangblenny is around eight centimeters and actually has a rare defence mechanism, where it can bite an attacking predator and inject venom when it is threatened. The venom causes dizziness and disorientation, weakening the predator’s ability to pursue and eat the fangblenny. I took the image at 10 meters deep, in the Philippines. I used an underwater housing around my mirrorless camera, and two underwater flash guns to illuminate the subject.’ (Picture: Jenny Stock)

Fonzies advertising

Liliana Luca, Italian photographer, said: ‘This moment happened after the tourists had left Nosy Komba (Madagascar). I stopped, letting the silence fall around me, and turned my attention to a group of crowned sifakas. It was then that he appeared, staring at me with wide, curious eyes, as if questioning my presence… or perhaps my clothing choices. Then, with the grace of a stage actor and the timing of a comedian, he raised his hand, licked it thoughtfully, and then paused mid-gesture, as if he knew exactly what he was doing. The photo immediately reminded me of that old snack commercial: “If you don’t lick your fingers… you’re only half enjoying it!” Ultimately, this is why I love nature photography so much: sometimes nature’s sense of humor is better than our own; you just have to be ready to catch it.’ (Picture: Liliana Luca)

Welcome to Zen Lemur Yoga Course!

Andrey Giljov from the Russian Federation said of these ring-tailed lemur in Madagascar : ‘Instructor Lemur demonstrates perfect enthusiasm, reaching high to embrace the universe. Student Lemur contemplates whether enlightenment is worth this much effort before breakfast. Flexibility? Optional. Dramatic flair? Mandatory.’ (Picture: Andrey Giljov)

Hit the dance floor!

German photographer Paula Rustemeier said of these red foxes snapped in the Netherlands: ‘This shot was taken quite at the beginning of my wildlife photography “journey”. I always enjoyed nature, but usually only photographed my dog, until I observed foxes for an essay I wrote for biology lessons in school and decided I want to try to photograph and learn even more about foxes. The photo was taken in a nature reserve. You really have to giggle a lot watching foxes play with their quirky personalities. Since then, I had been photographing and following fox cubs every spring/summer and had much more amazing encounters with foxes and also other wildlife.’ (Picture: Paula Rustemeier)

The Wig

Canadian photographer Yann Chauvette said of this Nepalese Rhino: ‘The greater one-horned rhino feasting on aquatic fine food, diving underwater and coming back up with a new wig made out of his delicious meal.’ (Picture: Yann Chauvette)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply