Hilarious Animal Antics: Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists Deliver Big Laughs

We all need a good laugh, and the finalists for this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards deliver just that with a collection of amazing, funny, and incredible wildlife photos.

Once again, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards received a record-breaking number of hilarious entries, with nearly 9,000 submissions from 98 countries, all competing for the top prize.

“Among the entries is a cheetah playing hide and seek behind a tree, a couple of bears hugging it out, a fish chasing an eagle across the sky (yes, really) and even a tiny flying squirrel bossing it like a Mafia Boss,” the group writes.

Check out the wonderful finalists below.

Squirrel….Blocked!

Shake, ruffle, rattle and roll!
A white-tailed eagle is ruffling its feathers.

Nagging is a Universal Concept
“I liked this image as It reminds me of the old TV commercial for Maxell audio cassette tapes called: “Blown Away Guy”. On safari in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania we hung around a Kopji of rocks because there were lion cubs being nursed when this action happened. I was just lucky enough to catch it,” says Scott Frier.

Smiling Elephant Seal
“These multi-ton giants fight to keep their harem of females. In the instant of the photo, the animal seems to be smiling… but the reality of the situation is that its expression of astonishment and smile is at the moment of fleeing quickly, because the dominant male was on his way to a bloody fight. It is better to preserve physical integrity… I better go…” says Gabriel Rojo.

Saying My Prayers

Where do you think you are going???

Parrotfish loves to be washed
“I saw this parrotfish with 2 other fishes cleaning him. The smile on his face shows that he really loves it,” says Wim Bellemans.

Whiskered tern crash on landing

Cold shower

Time to cool off
An Adelie penguin stands over its chick as it lays flat on the rock to cool off. Due to their high level of insulation, penguin chicks can sometimes overheat and lay on the rocks with their feet out to lower their body temperature.

Mafia Boss
This flying squirrel looked like he was sucking a cigar, and he looked like a mafia boss.

Wait! Which Zebra is in front!!!

The Rock Star
Fan-throated lizards are found only in the Indian subcontinent, where they have evolved under the influence of changing climates. These lizards are colorful and belong to the category of reptiles. Female Lizards do not display fan as they do not have. Male lizards inflates its attractive neck pouch to attract the female in hot summer season. Here is the female lizard standing upright to escape the summer heat.

Gang of Four
Ralph Robinson writes, “On the penguin highway, these rockhoppers are moving into town, and this town ain’t big enough for all of them! I set up my camera a good distance from this ridge, where rockhopper penguins were returning from feeding in the southern Atlantic ocean in the Falkland Islands. ..These birds look like they are ready to kick some penguin ass!”

Hide and Seek
Leslie McLeod says, “We were on safari in Kenya [at Mara Morth Conservancy] and happened upon this beautiful female who was looking for a mate. A group of topi were also keeping a pretty close eye her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is just about to shout out, ‘ready or not, here I come!'”

Awkward smiley frog

Song of the Zeisel
Ground Squirrel (local name Zeisel) calling to family that he’s found food.

Mantis flamenca

I’ll tell you a secret

Laughing out loud

I am COMING!
Razorbill attempting a very wobbly landing!

The Speed Skater
Stellers Sea Eagle in the drifting sea ice off Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan

Smooching owlets
“Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I guess that’s also true in the case of spotted owlets. It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin shut eyes,” says Sarthak Ranganadhan.

In love
After the meeting.. comes love!! This is everyone’s daily life.

Alright mate back off – this is my bird!
This image was taken in South Georgia, it really does show a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear – “back off!”

Riding by tail
A young playful baboon wanted the fun to go on even when his mother started moving away so he jumped on and started to ride her before being shrugged off. Here it looks like he is riding a broomstick.

Did You Hear the One About The….?

Weight-lifting
Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb says, “A squirrel came into my garden and started playing with a long stick. It moved incredibly quickly, darting this way and then that way, jumping up in the air and rolling on the lawn. I started to snap away and got these amazing photos of it with various poses, each doing a form of sports or music. This one is doing weight-lifting – a physically demanding sport for anyone. This squirrel is having a hard time of it by the look.”

Furry Ninja Series – Toetp

Gecko fashion model

Michela Bordoli  says, “As we walked on the sands of the Namib Desert, a gecko suddenly appeared, emerging out of nowhere with a smile on its face. It positioned itself perfectly, posing for a portrait worthy of a National Geography cover. It seemed to say: “Take my picture, I’m ready for my cover!”

Are You Kidding?
Two Cape Fur seals at Cape Cross Seal Reserve, Namibia

The Pavarotti of owls

Monday Again

Frog in in a balloon

I’m too sexy for my love
Artur Stankiewicz says, “One of the ‘lazy’ mornings we have decided to stop by the pool with hippos while in Mana Pools NP [Zimbabwe]… I got this idea to catch the portrait with water plants decorating the head, It looked like the guy just got our of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face.”

Hajime!
Hajime! This is the term used by the referee in Judo to invite opponents to start fighting. Here, the standing bear seems to be saying this to the other two, adopting the gesture that referees use when they say this word.

You’re not my mother!

Unexpected role swap

The Contemplative Chimpanzee

Holding on for a ride

Otter Guru

The Overall Winner, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on in December. For more information about the competition or how to enter visit: www.comedywildlifephoto.com