The 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards shortlist is here, showcasing the most amusing and bewildering moments in the animal kingdom. From a startled owlet meeting a woodpecker to a cheesing elephant seal and a mantis striking a pose on a Spanish roadside, these 40 images capture the humorous side of wildlife across land, sea, and air. One standout photo even features a fish seemingly chasing a low-flying bald eagle.
The public can vote for their favorite finalist photos here, chosen from nearly 9,000 entries spanning 98 countries. Launched in 2015, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards celebrates the relatable, comical aspects of nature, inspiring everything from chuckles to hearty laughter. Past winners include a lion’s unfortunate encounter with a tree (2022) and a monkey’s awkward landing on a branch (2021).
This year’s competition also features three video finalists, showcasing an ape struggling to climb, a fox enjoying a grass roll, and a tern hitching a ride on another tern. Plenty of feathered fun to witness!
Earlier this year, a shortlist of potential winners was released, including a “three-headed” giraffe, inquisitive birds, and joke-telling polar bears. These are the kind of images that need to be seen to be believed.
The overall winner, along with category winners and highly commended entries, will be announced in London on December 10th. Categories include mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, insects, fish and other aquatic species, along with dedicated categories for young photographers, junior photographers, video entries, and the people’s choice award.
Beyond providing moments of levity from the often harsh realities of the natural world, these images highlight the importance of conservation. The image of the woodpecker and owlet, for instance, is a moment the now-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker will never recreate. Wildlife is majestic, beautiful, surprising, and undeniably funny, and it’s humanity’s responsibility to ensure its continued existence.
