Who doesn’t need a dancing gorilla to bring joy to their life right now?
Gannets in the Wind, Laughing Lion and Sleepy Frog also have an uplifting effect, which is probably why they were named finalists in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.
The annual contest’s judges selected 40 images that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, 3 images in the portfolio category, and 10 videos of nature’s most hilarious creations.
Organizers say the contest has been running for 10 years, and this year they received about 10,000 entries from applicants from 108 countries. Other funny shots include a shot of a hairless squirrel and a shot of two frogs wrestling.
Finalists will be judged in a variety of categories, including reptiles, insects, fish, and young photographers. There will also be a People’s Choice Award, for which public voting will begin on the contest website the day after the winners are announced.
“These images combine wit and wonder to celebrate the nature of nature while highlighting the urgency of conservation,” Stefan Meyer, senior general manager of marketing at Nikon Europe, said in a press release on Thursday. “At Nikon, we are proud to support a competition that brings joy while reminding us why our wild world is worth protecting.”
Tom Salam, co-founder of the award, said the competition “reached more people in more countries than ever before, raised awareness of animal and habitat conservation, and, above all, helped to highlight the fundamental importance of wildlife on our planet and in our lives.”
Each year, the competition supports sustainable conservation organizations, and in 2025 the Whitley Nature Fund was once again chosen. The UK-based charity supports conservation leaders across the Global South.
The overall, category and top prize winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on December 9th. All finalists will take part in an exhibition at theGallery@Oxo in London from 10th to 14th December.
