Funniest nature photos show hippo hats and embarrassing owls

The competition hopes to use humor and exceptional photography to promote conservation.

A fish chasing an eagle through the sky, polar bear Judo and a little flying squirrel doing his best impression of a crime boss. These are just some of the 2024 finalists Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.

This year the competition received a record number of entries: just under 9,000 in total from 98 different countries.

The awards were founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam. They wanted to combine exceptional nature photography with the power of humor in an effort to promote nature conservation of wildlife and habitats.

Every year the competition supports a sustainable nature conservation organization. This year it is partnering with the Whitley Fund for Nature – a UK charity supporting conservation leaders working in their home countries in the Global South.

Hello world by Alexander Pansier

Photographer Alexander Pansier captured this image of a red ant looking down on us in the Netherlands last fall.

“I love the notes of this autumn leaf. So warm,” says Pansier. “It was difficult to take this photo because of the fast movements antbut with a little help from a flashlight I was able to freeze the motion.”

Cuddling Owls by Sarthak Ranganadhan

“Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I think that’s true in the case of spotted owls too,” says Sarthak Ranganadhan, who took this photo in Gurgaon, India.

Ranganadhan says it was funny to watch the spotted owls trying to get some privacy with their little offspring standing right next to them.

Unexpected role change by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk

Photographer Przemyslaw Jakubczyk captured this image of a bream appearing to chase a bald eagle at the Szczecin Lagoon in Poland.

“Every irritated and overtired fish should de-stress by hunting a bald eagle,” Jakubczyk jokes.

Sanjay Patil’s rock star

Fan-throated lizards are only found on the Indian subcontinent where they occur evolved under the influence of changing climates. Photographer Sanjay Patil explains that female lizards do not have the fan that gives them their name.

“A male lizard inflates his attractive neck pouch to attract the female in the hot summer season. Here the female lizard stands upright to escape the summer heat.

Takashi Kubo’s Mafia Boss

Photographer Takashi Kubo took this photo of a flying squirrel in Hokkaido, Japan.

“It looked like he was sucking on a cigar, and he looked like a mafia boss,” Kubo said.

Gang of Four by Ralph Robinson

“On the penguin highway, these rockhoppers are moving into town, and this town isn’t big enough for them all,” jokes photographer Ralph Robinson.

This photo of southern rockhopper penguins was taken on Pebble Island in the Falkland Islands.

“I set up my camera well away from this ridge, where there are rockhoppers penguins came back from feeding in the South Atlantic in the Falkland Islands,” says Robinson, adding that they appear ready for a fight.

Easy guys – Hajime! by Philippe Ricordel

Philippe Ricordel explains that Hajime is a term used by the referee in judo to invite opponents to fight.

“Here the standing bear appears to be saying this to the other two, adopting the gesture that referees use when saying this word.”

Ricordel took this photo of the three polar bears in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, USA.

Nagging is a universal concept by Scott Frier

Scott Frier likes this photo because it’s reminiscent of an old TV commercial.

“While on safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, we were hanging around a Kopji made of rocks because lion cubs were being cared for when this action took place,” Frier explains.

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

I’m Too Sexy for My Love by Artur Stankiewicz

Photographer Artur Stankeiwicz positioned himself on the shore of the Mana Pools NP in Zimbabwe in the hope of witnessing a battle between the hippos. But they were all peaceful, and a few raised their heads to investigate his presence.

Instead, Stankiewicz had the idea to capture this portrait with aquatic plants decorating the head of a hippopotamus.

“It looked like the man just came out of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face.”