Animals Culture and Society Humour Nature Photography Wildlife

The 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Finalists: Wildlife Putting On A Show!

Sharing is caring!

Founded by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has been blessing our lives with some good belly laughs since 2015. Indeed, what’s the best way to put a smile on your face than to enjoy wonderful wildlife photography with a nice touch of humor combined with irresistible cuteness.

The founders of the competition had stated that the aim of the contest was to focus on the lighter, humorous side of wildlife photography, while also playing a crucial role in promoting wildlife conservation. With the current state of the world, we could all use an abundant dose of fun, lightheartedness and laughter, and this year’s finalists have undoutedly delivered that, as mentioned by Tom Sullam. Every year, the competition supports a conservation organization, and this year it is collaborating with the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity supporting conservation in the global south. The category and overall winners of the competition will be announced on December 8.

So, without further ado, scroll down to see some of the highlights that made it to the finals, as captivating as they are hilarious!

1. “Jumping Jack” By Alex Pansier

Credit: Alex Pansier/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Super-squirrel! A red squirrel jumps during a rainstorm in the Netherlands, captured by photographer Alex Pansier.

2. “Hello Everyone” By Miroslav Srb

Credit: Miroslav Srb/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Raccoons can be quite cheeky, and this one was photographed in Florida, holding up a paw and saying hi to the photographer.

3. “The Wink” By Kevin Lohman

Credit: Kevin Lohman/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

An American Red Fox casually walked up to the edge of the woods and sat down, then turned around and winked. Moments later, the sly fox disappeared into the trees.

4. ‘Talk to the Fin’ By Jennifer Hadley

Credit: Jennifer Hadley/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Definitely a ‘Talk to the hand’, penguin version! These two Gentoo penguins were spotted hanging out on the beach on the Falkland Islands. At some point, one of them shook himself off and seemed as if he snubbed his mate.

5. “Mum Life” By Sophie Hart

Credit: Sophie Hart/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

A baby Long-tailed macaque holds on tight to its weary mother.

6. “Tight Fit!” By Mark Schocken

Credit: Mark Schocken/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This scene was photographed a few days before the two owlets fledged, in a park in Florida. One owlet tried to squeeze into the nest hole with Mom, perhaps to take a peek at the outside world for the first time. The moment lasted only a few seconds as Momma Owl didn’t seem very pleased with the arrangement. The expression on her face says it all!

7. “Pegasus, The Flying Horse” By Jagdeep Rajput

Credit: Jagdeep Rajput/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Photographer Jagdeep Rajput inadvertently captured this scene when an Indian Saras Crane spread its huge wings behind a Bluebull in Keoladeo National Park in India. As Rajput explained, the crane was actually attacking the bull from behind, as the large antelope had ventured too close to the bird’s nest.

8. “Excuse Me… Pardon Me!” By Ryan Sims

Credit: Ryan Sims/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

What a cute scene! A duckling waddling across turtles resting in file on a log at the Juanita wetlands. And yes, the duckling did fall off after a few turtle crossings.

9. “What Do You Mean Smile?! I Am Smiling!” By Alison Buttigieg

Credit: Alison Buttigieg/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

A lioness was making some funny facial expressions after yawning, and luckily for the photographer, she looked straight into the camera for a moment, and this fake smile was captured.

Read Also: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Finalists: From Monkey With ‘Blue Balls’ to Gossiping Raccoons.

10. “Curtain Call II” By Dave Shaffer

Credit: Dave Shaffer/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This adorable bear cub was enjoying himself playing with a stick.

11. “Maniacs” By Saverio Gatto

Credit: Saverio Gatto/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Lappet-faced Vultures showing off their ‘pantaloons’ with absolutely no shame!

12. “Say Cheeeese” By Arturo Telle Thiemann

Credit: Arturo Telle Thiemann/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

A couple of Triggerfish looking into the camera, photographed at Azores (Portugal). Though this scene looks funny, Triggerfish can be quite aggressive. However, they didn’t attempt to bite the photographer, but the domeport of his camera housing did end up with some scratches.

13. “Not So Cat-Like Reflexes” By Jennifer Hadley

Credit: Jennifer Hadley/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This 3 month old cub attempting to climb down a tree is hilarious! The cub and his sibling were in a tree while the other lionesses were lying in other trees and on the ground. He wanted to get down and walked all over the branches trying to find the right spot. In the end, he just went for it but this was probably his first time climbing a tree, and the descent was well, not so graceful! But no worries, he was just fine after landing on the ground, and got up and ran off with some other cubs.

14. “I Jump Instead Of Flying” By Tímea Ambrus

Credit: Tímea Ambrus/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The Screech owl preferred to make a jump for it instead of flying. Perhaps he wanted to try his other skills!

15. “Shark Moose” By Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven

Credit: Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

What a beautiful smile you have there! Don’t think this bull Moose is smiling though. Maybe it’s getting ready to attack.

16. “I’m Gonna Strangle You!” By Emmanuel Do Linh San

Credit: Emmanuel Do Linh San/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This comical spectacle took place in the Kalahari Trails Game Reserve, in South Africa. The photographer was following a group of meerkats on foot and most individuals, including adults, were in a playful mood. He had the chance to shoot some very fascinating and dynamic interactions between some members of the group. In this actual photo, there is no aggression although it may appear otherwise. It is a similar interaction among humans when one of our friends jokes about us and we pretend to strangle them, and in response, they have this expression on their face.

17. “Rushing Little Owl Fledgeling” By Shuli Greenstein

Credit: Shuli Greenstein/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The photographer went on a journey early in the morning in the Judean Lowlands in Israel, as he was told a lot of little owls can be found in this region. He spotted some little owls standing on the ground, on stones, tree branches, and near the nest. Suddenly, two fledgelings caught his eyes while they were playing with each other on the ground. When one of them crossed his field of vision, he started shooting in sequence and this was the stunning result…

18. “Fight Back” By John Chaney

Credit: John Chaney/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Not lunch, but a punch in the face for this bear trying to catch a salmon.

19. “It’s All Kicking Off!” By Michael Eastwell

Credit: Michael Eastwell/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Cape Hillsborough is famous for its resident kangaroos and wallabies. The photographer had visited the area for three consecutive sunrises, and it was on the final morning that this spectacular scene was captured. Two wallabies were playing/fighting with each other on the beach as the sun peeked through the surrounding clouds.

Read Also: 45 Hilarious Animal Photos Captured At Just The Right Time

20. “Uncomfortable Pillow” By Andrew Peacock

Credit: Andrew Peacock/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

These two elephant seal weaners were practising their jousting skills for several minutes before they collapsed in exhaustion. One of them seems to have found the perfect pillow to snuggle in…or maybe not!

21. “Three Headed (“Kerberos”)” By Paolo Mignosa

Credit: Paolo Mignosa/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The three cubs appear like Cerberus (Greek: Kérberos), the multi-headed dog (usually three-headed) from Greek mythology. Cerberus is often referred to as the hound of Hades, who guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving.

22. “Stop And Stare” By Andy Evans

Credit: Andy Evans/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

After Borneo’s borders reopened again in April 2022, Andy Evans had the chance to visit and photograph some of the fascinating and marvellous wildlife on the island. After 2 years with no tourists, it seemed like the wildlife was just as surprised and intrigued to see the photographer as he was to see them. This young Proboscis monkey watched in wonder as he cruised by on the Kinabatangan river.

23. “Barf” By Paul Eijkemans

Credit: Paul Eijkemans/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This photo of a Picasso Triggerfish was captured in Marsa Shagra, Egypt. The fish just expelled the coral residues that it swallowed while nibbling on the coral.

24. “Romantic” By Valtteri Mulkahainen

Credit: Valtteri Mulkahainen/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

When it’s time to stop and smell the flowers.

25. “Misleading African Viewpoints 2” By Jean Jacques Alcalay

Credit: Jean Jacques Alcalay/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

This Hippo yawning next to a Heron standing on the back of another hippo makes it seems as if he is about to take a huge bite off the behind of the bird.

Read Also: These Frogs And Toads Having Almost Human-like Butt Cheeks Are Actually A Thing

26. “Farting Zebra” by Vince Burton

Credit: Vince Burton/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Photographer Vince Burton captured this timely photo of this zebra in Kenya in a rather unusual position. Was it letting one out?

27. “Don’t mess with me!” by Lincoln Macgregor

Credit: Lincoln Macgregor/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Cassowary birds are known for being dangerous, and the photographer Lincolon Macgregor was wary of that by keeping a safe distance from this one in Australia. According to the photographer, the big bird sat down on a picnic blanket and started devouring the food the people had laid out for themselves.
“Picnickers in this area often inadvertently attract these birds with food, however human food can have a negative effect on their health,” Macgregor said.

28. “What Shall I Write Next” By Torie Hilley

Credit: Torie Hilley/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

While most bear cubs usually do what cubs do like following mom around, nursing and playing around, this one took it to another level of cuteness, and shall we say a rather ‘intellectual’ one. The bear cub found an eagle feather and started to play with it for a good 10 minutes. She danced and rolled with the feather and at some point, held it in her mouth, which looked as if she was reflecting about her next choice of words. How cute is that!

29. “Monkey Wellness Centre” By Federica Vinci

Credit: Federica Vinci/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The photographer stumbled upon this scene while walking near a cambodian temple inhabited by groups of wild monkeys. A wild monkey sprawled on the ground in total relaxation mood, while his mate was taking care of him.

30. “Lisper Squirrel” By Lee Zhengxing

Credit: Lee Zhengxing/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The photographer encountered this little squirrel when climbing a mountain and upon approaching it, the little guy didn’t escape right away. Instead, he just kept standing on the edge of the cliff and overlooked into the distance, and then turned to stare at the photographer. Lee Zhengxing left him some biscuits and while snapping a photo when he was saying his thanks, he discovered he was a lisper.

Read Also: Sun-loving Hippo Was Sighted Chilling On Its Back While Seemingly Getting A Tan

31. “Keep Calm And Keep Your Head” By Martin Grace

Credit: Martin Grace/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Two King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at Volunteer Point in the Falklands. The penguin on the right is rather intrigued as to where did its companion head disappear! Sleepy Hollow penguin version?

32. “Funny Walk” By Bojan Bencic

Credit: Bojan Bencic/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The swan was in the middle of a fight with another swan, pursuing him around on a frozen lake.

33. “Happy Feet” by Thomas Vijayan

Credit: Thomas Vijayan/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The walk of determination of this fluffy baby Emperor penguin in Antarctica just adds to the cuteness of this photo.

READ LATEST ARTICLES:

Sharing is caring!

Back To Top

You cannot copy content of this page