Wildlife photography is already pretty amazing on its own, but every now and then, animals do something so random you can’t help but laugh. And that’s exactly what the Comedy Wildlife Awards are all about.
The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have just announced this year’s finalists, bringing together some of the funniest and most adorable moments captured in the wild. These are animals caught in hilariously awkward poses, proving that wildlife doesn’t always take itself too seriously.
The competition celebrates the lighter side of the natural world while also highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation. And with the Sterna People’s Choice Award vote now open, we also get a chance to pick our own favorite finalist. So, Pandas, scroll down to check out this year’s finalists and see which photo makes you laugh the most. And if you find your favorite, you can cast your vote for it - you could even win £500!
The overall competition winners will be announced on December 8, but for now, let’s enjoy these funny moments captured in the wild. And, as we always do when sharing photos from this contest, let’s have fun coming up with our own interpretations of what's going on in these wonderfully unserious shots.
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#1 “Sexy Mantis” By Diego Perez
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#2 “Angry Bird” By Jan Wittmer
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#3 “Spicy Orangutan” By Tanner Mansell
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#4 “The Different One” By Dirk Koster
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#5 “A Very Pressured Spadefish” By Kyo Chen
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#6 “Little Godzilla” By Udo Harms
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#7 “The Leap He'll Never Forget/Crash Landing. (Under 25 Category)” By David Lee
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#8 “Oops - I Think I Just Parped” By Carolyn Moore
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#9 “Two Birds One Vision” By Lynn Emery
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#10 “Fashion Fades. Feather Coats Are Forever.” By Tapani Linnanmäki
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#11 “Hair Check Before The Family Photo” By Subi Sridharan
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#12 “African Bullfrog Attacks Rival” By Jeremy Richards
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#13 “Doris With Her Hat” By Andy Rouse
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#14 “The Secret Kiss” By Jeetendra Chaware
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#15 “Cheeky Little Elephant. (Under 25 Category)” By Hannah Dietl
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#16 “Did I Sleep Past My Alarm?” By Fabi Fregonesi
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#17 “This Is My Best Side” By Natalie Veekmans
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#18 “Nature's Window” By Lee Frost
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#19 “Just A Gentle Nudge… For Traffic Discipline" By Shailza Singhal
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#20 “Playing Dress-Up” By Phiané Oosthuizen
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#21 “Sneeze” By Alexander Hormann
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#22 “Bears Sharing A Joke” By Charles Janson
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#23 “Are You Kidding Me?” By Kevin Lohman
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#24 “Elvis” By Paolo Torre
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#25 “Squirrel Wars” By Remi Schnell
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#26 “Ballet Dancer” By Robert Nairn
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#27 “Morning Calisthenics” By Scott Suraino
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#28 “Out Of Water” By Thong Duy Vu
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#29 “Heard The One About The Fox?” By Jack Brackley
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#30 “Push Over” By Barbara Seiberl-Stark
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#31 “If I Can't See You” By Cliff Fawcett
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#32 “Zonkling” By Celine Nic Oireachtaigh
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#33 “Lessons” By Heather Cudworth
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#34 “Resting Owl Face” By Ka Chum Jacky Sung
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#35 “Oooh, That Tickles...” By Doug Gimesy
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#36 “#forthegram” By Rosie Barrett
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#37 “Walking To School At 7 Am In Winter” By Matei Maracineanu
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#38 “Mischief” By Heather Smith
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#39 “If I Were Just A Little Faster...” By Eric Boren
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#40 “The Handstand” By Homagni Sahana
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#41 “Exhausted Badger Cub” By Lukas Andree Andersen
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#42 “Sea Gangsters” By Marek Jackowski
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#43 “Smile” By Marek Jackowski
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#44 “The Ground Is Lava!” By Robert Gondek
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#45 “Highway Robbery” By Curt Lundeen
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#46 “Hercules, The Baboon” By Andy Parkinson
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#47 “Fish-Headed Bird” By Eigil B Jensen
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