25 Of The Most Hilarious Pics From 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards That Will Crack You Up

Nature isn’t just the best artist. It can also be the best stand-up comedian with all kinds of hilarious skits by creatures that don’t speak the human language. It is the seventh year for Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, and the finalists have been announced!

What some people think these are fails, these photographers prove they might just be meant for a different genre. The competition was started by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam in 2015. Aligned with their purpose to promote wildlife conservation, this year, they’ll donate a tenth of their revenue to ‘Save Wild Orangutans’ in Borneo, around Gunung Palung National Park.

You don’t mess with a black belt!

“When this Bald Eagle missed on its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs. Goliath story!”

Mary doesn’t find this funny!

“I followed this Ruby-Crowned Kinglet for about 15 minutes as it hopped from one branch to another in fast succession. I think it knew I was following it because, all of a sudden, it just stopped and stared at me for all of about 3 seconds!”

What do we want?! Fresher muds!

Such a cute smile!

“Grey seal pup appears to be giggling. I loved the expression captured. It looks so human-like.  I was lying on a rocky beach for hours, as motionlessly as possible, patiently waiting for seal life to unfold around me. This seal pup came onto the shore for a bit of rest and ended up sleeping on its chosen rock for hours before the incoming tide forced it to move more inland. Occasionally, it would stretch and yawn, and it was one of the yawns that led to this expression, looking as if the seal was giggling.”

The power of coffee.

“Baby Great Horned Owl shows a human-like reaction as one wakes up before coffee and after having a cup. I was avidly watching the two cute owlets in the nest, hoping it would wake up and move. It took a pretty long time, as both babies were too sleepy and were nuzzling each other, sleeping with mouths open. When one finally started to stir, this is what I saw. It is too precious, half opening both eyes, opening one and finally, both eyes looking like it was startled.”

They say you can see music in its most original form on the streets.

“A young langur sways its body to give an impression that it’s dancing.”

Yes, my feet are sexy.

“There is a great big pine tree with a small to a medium-sized hole in it near my house where a young raccoon has called this home for the past year. Well, this year, it appears that the little raccoon has outgrown its tiny home as it barely fits!”

Professional raccoon.

“This raccoon spends his time trying to get into houses out of curiosity and perhaps also to steal food.”

An accurate depiction of me before my morning coffee.

“I took this shot while photographing a group of Pied starlings perched in a tree at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa. It perfectly sums up my mood on most Monday mornings :)”

Waltzing in the forest.

“Two Kamchatka bear cubs square up for a celebratory play fight having successfully navigated a raging torrent (small stream!).”

What’re you looking at?!

When you’re in lockdown for so long that even the camera looks interesting.

“Isolated inside with your family eager to get out and explore the world? These eastern raccoon kits are too. Just when you think there’s no more room in the tree hollow, mother raccoon appears and displays just how compact the space is. The babies clambered all over their mom and each another, struggling to take a look at the exact same time.  This photo was taken in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. After exploring a particular area with numerous tree hallows, I identified it as a hot spot for raccoon families. Since raccoons will move from den to den, often not spending more than one night at a time in a particular den, locating an area with numerous options is key to locating the animals. I stumbled across this family and immediately worked on leveling the camera with the hole to prevent an upward angle. When the camera and tripod were ready, the baby raccoons were extremely curious (and cooperative), sticking their heads out for a closer look!”

Did you call me?

“I was photographing a group of goslings for a while when one broke away from the pack. It hid behind the leg of a bench for a few seconds before poking its little head out to say hello.”

Bear: Draw me like one of your French… bears?

“This young Kodiak Brown Bear sauntered down the riverbed and stopped across from me. She proceeded to start making herself a bear bed pulling back the sand with her gigantic claws. Once she had her bed just how she wanted it she laid down, rolled over on her back, and started smiling and me! And she didn’t stop smiling! I would have to say she was the most provocative bear I had ever seen!”

Playtime’s over!

“A smooth-coated otter “bit” its baby otter to bring it back to and fro for swimming lesson.”

Even kangaroos dream of the stage.

“The kangaroo looked like he was singing ‘the hills are alive, with the sound of music in the field.”

You can FEEL the pain and HEAR the scream.

“A golden silk monkey in Yunnan China – this is actually a show of aggression however in the position that the monkey is in it looks quite painful!”

The Happy Feet crew is back!

“I was lying on the beach during a stretch of fair weather at Volunteer Point in East Falkland, just waiting to capture a Gentoo Penguin jumping out of the surf to land on the beach.  To my delight, a trio emerged from the water and walked straight in my direction.  I really enjoyed photographing this moment as it seems to capture some sassy personality displayed by these individuals.”

If Bug’s Life has a live-action…

“A Dragonfly early in the morning on a flower looks into my camera and it seems as if it laughing. The year 2020/2021 was very hard for everybody because of Corona. But when you go outside and watch carefully the Beauty of our nature, then problems seem to get less for me. So if I have a bad day this image makes me give a smile back.”

Ah… Autumn’s here.

“I was taking pics of pigeons in flight when this leaf landed on bird’s face.”

Man knows his worth.

“Males of these species of lizard chooses higher elevations to monitor their territory and display. Caught this particular male roosting on the twig of the bush during high heat summer.”

Have you ever seen a snake laugh?

“Vine snakes are very commonly seen snakes in western ghats of India. When approached they show aggression by opening their mouth wide open. Nothing to scare of this beautiful harmless Vine snake.I was happy to find it and smiling and  It looks like he was smiling back at me.”

You wouldn’t believe it when we say an elephant just did slapstick comedy.

“An elephant expresses his joy in taking a mud bath against the dead trees on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on a hot afternoon.”

Catch me!

“I spent my days in my usual “gopher place” and yet again, these funny little animals haven’t belied their true nature.”

The majestic and amazing bald eagles.

“Bald Eagles will use the same nest for years, even decades, adding new material to it at the beginning and throughout the nesting season. Normally, they are highly skilled at snapping branches off of trees while in flight. Possibly tired from working nonstop all morning on a new nest, this particular Bald Eagle wasn’t showing its best form. Yes, sometimes they miss. Although this looks painful, and it might very well be, the eagle recovers with just a few sweeping wing strokes, and chose to rest a bit before making another lumber run.”