Now in its tenth year, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards competition has once again brought us offbeat animal moments, from break-dancing foxes and vaping ducks to a squirrel with a bad hair day. The finalists, which have just been announced, are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
‘The Shoulders of Giants’ by Andrew Mortimer. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Stellar sea eagles practice Kung Fu’ by Mike Lane. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
Paul Joynson‑Hicks and Tom Sullam launched the competition in 2015. Over the last decade, it has grown into a global showcase of unusual wildlife photography. This year’s contest attracted almost 10,000 entries from 108 countries. The judges, a 16-member panel of wildlife photographers, filmmakers, conservationists, comedians, and organizers, have whittled down the submissions to these finalists. They will select the winners on December 9.
‘Relaxing in the trees!’ by Diana Rebman. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Bad Hair Day!’ by Christy Grinton. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
Categories
The finalists are contenders in various categories, including mammals, birds, reptiles/amphibians/insects, and fish & other aquatic species. There are also two age-based categories, Junior Photographer and Young Photographer, for those under the ages of 16 and 25, respectively.
‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King’ by Bret Saalwaechter. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘The Frog Prince of the Grape Vine’ by Beate Ammer. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
After the December 9 decision in London, all finalists’ images will be on display from December 10 to 14 in a public exhibition at the OXO Gallery in London.
‘Monkey Circus’ by Kalin Botev. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Outdoor smoking zone’ by Lars Beygang. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Now, which direction is my nest?’ by Alison Tuck. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Welcome to Zen Lemur Yoga Course!’ by Andrey Giljov. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Go away’ by Annette Kirby. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Territorial Defense Operation’ by Antoine Rezer. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘What do you mean I need to see a dentist?’ by Bingqian Gao. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Great Hair Day’ by David Fetters. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Relaxing in the trees!’ by Diana Rebman. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Landing Gears Down’ by Erkko Badermann. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Hornbill In a Hurry’ by Geoff Martin. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Baptism of the Unwilling Convert’ by Grayson Bel. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Peek a Boo’ by Henry Szwinto. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Bad mouthing’ by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Smiler’ by Jenny Stock. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Battle Hug’ by Jessica Emmett. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘It is tough being a duck’ by John Speirs. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Oh my!’ by Laurent Nilles. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Fonzies advertising’ by Liliana Luca. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Masquerading as an arrow’ by Magnus Berggren. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘High Five’ by Mark Meth-Cohn. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘The Choir’ by Meline Ellwanger. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Paint Me Like One of Your Forest Girls’ by Michael Stavrakakis. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Flamingone’ by Miles Astray. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Stretch your leg’ by Peter Reinold. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Pied Piper Penguins’ by Ralph Robinson. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Squirrel Airborne Surrender Mode’ by Stefan Cruysberghs. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Smile, you’re being photographed’ by Valtteri Mulkahainen. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘Headlock’ by Warren Price. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
‘The Wig’ by Yann Chauvette. Photo: Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
