The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024, hosted by Nikon, has unveiled its latest batch of hilarious animal moments. From a polar bear cracking jokes to a grizzly bear mama tired of giving piggy-back rides, these photos are sure to bring a smile to your face.
One particularly striking image, titled “Not a Good Idea,” captures a small cattle egret poised to grab a male buffalo’s genitals. Taken by photographer Anton Pretorius in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa, this photo is a comedic reminder of nature’s sometimes awkward moments.
Another photograph, taken in Antarctica, showcases a lonely chinstrap penguin looking dejected as his penguin buddies walk away. Photographer Wendy-Kaveney captured this comically sad image, describing it as a relatable portrayal of being a third wheel.
In Canada, photographer Wendy-Kaveney captured two polar bears engaged in a lively conversation, one seemingly tired of his friend’s jokes while the other bursts into laughter.
Across the globe in Germany, photographer Ingo Hamann caught a seal having the time of its life, appearing to laugh out loud. Meanwhile, at Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, photographer Alexander Fine captured two brown bear cubs attempting to hitch a ride on their mother’s back.
In a perfectly timed shot taken by Mark Koster at Chaparral Park in Scottsdale, Arizona, a mallard duck appears to be flying into a tree, creating a humorous optical illusion.
Photographer John Mullineux captured a remarkable shot in the Green Kalahari desert in South Africa, showing three giraffes appearing to come from a single body, a result of the perfect moment after they had been fighting.
In the slow lane, a three-toed sloth hangs from a tree, striking a pose in what could be the slowest air-guitar performance ever. Photographer Harry Collins aptly named this image “Slowhand,” a nod to Eric Clapton’s nickname, given to him by the band’s manager Giorgio Gomelsky after a slow hand clap erupted during a performance while Clapton replaced a broken guitar string.
In Sri Lanka, photographer Tilan Weerasinghe captured a camera-shy white-breasted waterhen seemingly saying, “No pictures please!”
Finally, a photo taken by Thomas Van Puymbroeck shows a sea turtle eagerly raising its fin, appearing to answer the question: “Who wants to live in a plastic-free ocean? Meeeee!”
These photographs, all finalists in the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024, showcase the humor and beauty found in the animal kingdom.
