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 “Angry Bird” By Jan Wittmer
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#2 “Sexy Mantis” By Diego Perez
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#3 “This Is My Best Side” By Natalie Veekmans
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#4 “Spicy Orangutan” By Tanner Mansell
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#5 “Fashion Fades. Feather Coats Are Forever.” By Tapani Linnanmäki
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#6 “Hair Check Before The Family Photo” By Subi Sridharan
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#7 “Doris With Her Hat” By Andy Rouse
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#8 “The Secret Kiss” By Jeetendra Chaware
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#9 “Cheeky Little Elephant. (Under 25 Category)” By Hannah Dietl
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#10 “Two Birds One Vision” By Lynn Emery
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#11 “Nature's Window” By Lee Frost
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#12 “Out Of Water” By Thong Duy Vu
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#13 “The Different One” By Dirk Koster
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#14 “The Leap He'll Never Forget/Crash Landing. (Under 25 Category)” By David Lee
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#15 “Resting Owl Face” By Ka Chum Jacky Sung
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#16 “A Very Pressured Spadefish” By Kyo Chen
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#17 “Little Godzilla” By Udo Harms
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#18 “African Bullfrog Attacks Rival” By Jeremy Richards
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#19 “Oops - I Think I Just Parped” By Carolyn Moore
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#20 “Elvis” By Paolo Torre
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#21 “Ballet Dancer” By Robert Nairn
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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 “Did I Sleep Past My Alarm?” By Fabi Fregonesi
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#25 “Exhausted Badger Cub” By Lukas Andree Andersen
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#26 “Morning Calisthenics” By Scott Suraino
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#27 “Just A Gentle Nudge… For Traffic Discipline" By Shailza Singhal
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#28 “Zonkling” By Celine Nic Oireachtaigh
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#29 “Sea Gangsters” By Marek Jackowski
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#30 “The Ground Is Lava!” By Robert Gondek
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#31 “Squirrel Wars” By Remi Schnell
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#32 “#forthegram” By Rosie Barrett
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#33 “Heard The One About The Fox?” By Jack Brackley
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#34 “Playing Dress-Up” By Phiané Oosthuizen
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#35 “Sneeze” By Alexander Hormann
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#36 “Push Over” By Barbara Seiberl-Stark
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#37 “If I Can't See You” By Cliff Fawcett
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#38 “Lessons” By Heather Cudworth
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#39 “Oooh, That Tickles...” By Doug Gimesy
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#40 “The Handstand” By Homagni Sahana
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#41 “Smile” By Marek Jackowski
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#42 “Mischief” By Heather Smith
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#43 “Hercules, The Baboon” By Andy Parkinson
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#44 “Walking To School At 7 Am In Winter” By Matei Maracineanu
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#45 “If I Were Just A Little Faster...” By Eric Boren
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#46 “Highway Robbery” By Curt Lundeen
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#47 “Fish-Headed Bird” By Eigil B Jensen
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