The funniest nature photos of the year – DNyuz

The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards announced the finalists of its 2024 photo competition on Thursday.

The 40 selected photos, which show different animals posing funny in the wild and showcase the skills and ingenuity of photographers, were chosen from 9,000 entries from 98 countries. The winning photos will be announced on December 10.

Proceeds from the photo competition will benefit the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that awards grants to leaders in the field of environmental and conservation.

Check out the funniest wildlife photos of the year. Photographers’ captions have been shortened and edited for clarity.

“Holding on for a Ride” by Alexander Fine

“After a nap, the mother bear wanted to go for a walk, but the cubs wanted a ride,” Fine wrote.

“Peekaboo” by Alexander Fine

Fine photographed a blenny peeking out of a hole in a coral reef.

“Hello World” by Alexander Pansier

“It was difficult to take this photo because of the fast-moving ant, but with a little help from a flashlight I was able to freeze the motion,” Pansier wrote.

“In Love” by Andrea Rosado

Rosado photographed two bears embracing in Sitka, Alaska.

“English Cricket’s Newest Secret Weapon” by Andy Rouse

“I took this photo of a dancing sifaka in Madagascar,” Rouse wrote. “As he ran towards us he made all sorts of funny shapes but this was the best. He looks like he’s practicing his bowling action for an England call-up!”

“Okay Mate, Go Away — This Is My Bird” by Andy Rouse

“This photo was taken in South Georgia,” Rouse wrote. “It really shows a male king penguin trying to woo a female who has already paired with her mate. The body posture and wing position make the message clear: ‘Go away!'”

Rouse’s photograph was also highly commended in the 2006 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

“I’m Too Sexy for My Love” by Artur Stankiewicz

Stankiewicz wrote that the hippo looked like he “just came from the barber with a big smile on his face.”

“The Contemplative Chimpanzee” by Arvind Mohandas

Mohandas photographed a chimpanzee in Uganda who was “clearly thinking about an important topic.”

“Otter Guru” by Charles Janson

“In a kayak with my camera precariously balanced on the side, I remained very still as I drifted past this resting sea otter,” Janson wrote. “He remained relaxed (you can tell because he is still floating on his back) and continued to groom himself. With his peaceful face and upturned paws, he reminded me of a guru meditating.”

“Saying My Prayers” by Christine Haines

“Otters hold their food with their paws, giving the appearance of praying,” Haines wrote.

“Monday Again” by Christopher Arnold

“I photographed this nutria right from the canoe,” Arnold wrote. “He was busy grooming himself.”

“Cold Shower” by Corentin Revel

“This deer stood on her hind legs to grab some leaves from the tree to eat, but when she got back on her four legs, she suddenly let go of the branch and took a cold shower on her head,” Revel wrote.

“Whiskered Tern Makes Emergency Landing” by Damyan Petkov

Petkov photographed a whiskered tern making an emergency landing on a rock in Bulgaria.

“Frog in a Balloon” by Eberhard Ehmke

“During a photo shoot at the pond I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble,” Ehmke wrote.

“The Pavarotti of Owls” by Fred Amico

“This area has always been a nesting site for burrowing owls, so I visit regularly,” Amico wrote. “When I saw this image on the computer, it looked like this little owl was singing at the top of its voice.”

“Smiley Elephant Seal” by Gabriel Rojo

“These multi-ton giants fight to maintain their harem of females,” Rojo wrote.

“I’m Coming” by Inés Godínez

Godínez’s photo shows razorbills watching one of their own kind attempt a wobbly landing.

“Laughing Out Loud” by Ingo Hamann

“This newborn seal appears to be laughing at a good joke,” Hamann wrote.

“I’ll tell you a secret” by Jan Piecha

“A little raccoon cub tells a secret to his mother while whispering something in her ear,” wrote Piecha.

“Where do you think you’re going?” by Jörn Clausen

“This photo was taken in 2015 on my first visit to the Farne Islands in the UK,” Clausen wrote. “The islands were full of puffins, kittiwakes, shags, guillemots and razorbills, and I have never before or since taken so many photos in such a short time.”

“Mantis Flamenca” by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina

Molina lay down on the side of the road to take this photo of a Flemish praying mantis with its arms in the air.

“Song of the Zeisel” by Kath Aggiss

Aggiss photographed a ground squirrel, also known as a squirrel, calling out to its family that it had found food.

“Awkward Smiley Frog” by Kingston Tam

“I asked this frog to smile for the camera but he seemed a little shy,” Tam wrote.

“Hide and Seek” by Leslie McLeod

“We were on safari in Kenya and came across this beautiful female looking for a mate,” McLeod wrote. “A group of topis were also keeping a close eye on her as she left messages for a potential mate on various trees. This photo makes me think the cheetah is about to shout, ‘Ready or not, here I come!'”

“The Skater” by Mark Meth-Cohn

Meth-Cohn photographed a Steller’s sea eagle on the ice off the coast of Rausu, Japan.

“Are You Kidding?” by Marti Phillips

Phillips photographed two Cape fur seals laughing.

“Gekko Mannequin” by Michela Bordoli

“As we walked across the sands of the Namib Desert, a gecko suddenly appeared, appearing out of nowhere with a smile on his face,” Bordoli wrote. “He positioned himself perfectly and posed for a portrait worthy of a National Geographic cover. He seemed to be saying, ‘Take my picture, I’m ready for my cover!'”

“Stuck Squirrel” by Milko Marchetti

Marchetti’s photo shows a squirrel with its paws sticking out of a hole in a tree.

“Easy Fellas” by Philippe Ricordel

“’Hajime!’ This is the term used by the referee in judo to invite opponents to fight,” Ricordel wrote. “Here the standing bear seems to say this to the other two, adopting the gesture that referees use when saying this word.”

“Unexpected role reversal” by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk

“Any irritated and overtired fish needs to de-stress by hunting a sea eagle,” Jakubczyk wrote.

“Gang of Four” by Ralph Robinson

“On the penguin highway, these rockhoppers come into town, and this town ain’t big enough for them all!” Robinson wrote.

“You’re Not My Mother” by Randy Herman

“This female red-bellied woodpecker had been investigating this tawny owl nest for a few days — perhaps it was her nest from last year?” Herman wrote. “This little owl was clearly startled and didn’t seem to know what to do with this intruder.”

“The Rock Star” by Sanjay Patil

“Here is a female lizard standing upright to escape the summer heat,” Patil wrote.

“Wait…Which zebra is in front?” by Sarosh lodhi

“I expected them to interact, huddle together, or perhaps even fight, but by chance they came together in a way that created this beautiful optical illusion,” Iodhi wrote of the zebras in the photo.

“Cuddling Owls” by Sarthak Ranganadhan

“Our parents always find a way to make fun of us — I think the spotted owls do too,” Ranganadhan wrote. “It was really funny to see two owls trying to get some privacy while their little ones stood next to them with grins and closed eyes.”

“Whining is a universal concept” by Scott Frier

Frier took this photo during a safari in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

“I printed this image and hung it on the wall of my house, and everyone who sees it laughs,” Frier wrote.

“Mafia Boss” by Takashi Kubo

Kubo wrote that this flying squirrel looked like it was “sucking on a cigar,” like a mafia boss.

“Shake Ruffle Rattle and Roll” by Tapani Linnanmäki

“The photo shows a sea eagle spreading its feathers,” Linnanmäki wrote.

“Parrotfish likes to be washed” by Wim Bellemans

“I saw this parrotfish with two other fish cleaning him,” Bellemans wrote. “The smile on his face shows that he really loves it.”

“Time to Cool Down” by Zikri Teo

“An Adélie penguin stands over its chick as it lies flat on a rock to cool off,” Teo wrote. “Due to their high level of insulation, penguin chicks can sometimes overheat and lie on rocks with their feet out to lower their body temperature.”

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