The 2025 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are delivering the goods when it comes to giggles and marveling at the animal kingdom.
While there are chuckles to be had, the mission is serious. Under the banner “Conservation through competition”, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards work to raise awareness. Founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam to celebrate the lighter side of wildlife photography, the awards showcase how funny wildlife photography can help promote wildlife conservation efforts.
“Our world is extraordinarily beautiful and interconnected, yet the human race is doing its best to over-exploit and damage it,” says Joynson-Hicks. “Issues of wildlife conservation and sustainability are gaining momentum globally, yet the messages and images tend to be negative, depressing and enervating.”
Professional and amateur photographers can submit their wildlife snaps for free until 30 June and this year’s winners will be featured in an exhibition at Gallery@Oxo, London, in December.
In the meantime, here are some of our favourites of this year’s submissions.
‘Sup?
“Wandering along the Murrumbidgee River we spotted a few lizards scurrying under the rocks looking for lunch, next thing this junior Gippsland Waterdragon popped up and gave us a friendly wave.” – Trevor Rix.
If Tom Cruise can, we can…
“The image shows lion siblings at play, where one of the siblings seems to pushing the other one to do stuff that annoys their mom. Lions aren’t natural climbers, so it looks like one sibling is encouraging the other to do something naughty!” – Bhargava Srivari.
“Ermahgerd!”
“Two joyful mudskippers look they are having the best time in the mud – I just wish I knew what the joke was!” – Emma Parker.
“Witness meeeeee!”
“This roedeer was running around and suddenly coming my way. [I] had only one chance and nailed it.” – Jeremy Duvekot.
Bath time
“A really spontaneous shot from an expedition ship in Antarctica. Those gentoo penguins seemed to orderly wait in queue to finally jump into the sea.” – Martin Schmid.
“You wanted a palace, Sharon… Now you’ve got one.”
“Photo taken on October 30, 2024 at Kruger National Park in South Africa outside Skukuza Camp. The Common Myna builds a large nest.” – Brian Hempstead.
White-Tailed Sea Eagles don’t share!!!
“This was taken in Japan where I was observing a White-Tailed Sea Eagle putting their fish in a hole and protecting it. This one had a fish and saw another Eagle coming in to try and steal it.” – Annette Kirby.
“Onwards, Tonto!”
“A lava lizard takes charge of a Galapagos marine iguana and sets off on a ride. Judging by the iguana’s possessed eyes, lava lizard may have taken over its soul, too. These two silly billies were hanging out with a big bunch of marine iguanas on a rocky beach.” – Rachelle Mackintosh.
Photographers have until 30 June to enter their photos in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.
