The best of the 2025 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Animal magic

The finalists in the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are always guaranteed to raise a smile and that's certainly the case with 2025’s winners. From competitive lion cubs to show-off birds, we've picked nine of our favorites – and as an added bonus, have included the best from the 2022, 2023, and 2024 awards too.

Click through the gallery to find pics that are sure to brighten your day....

Pied piper penguins

Who needs a sheepdog when you have king penguins on hand?

I just can't wait to be King

Mama lion does not appear to have a lot of time for the sibling rivalry going on here. 

Fonzies advertising

Whatever this crowned sifaka just ate it was clearly finger lickin’ good.

Headlock

There’s clearly been a spot of disagreement, but you can take biting someone’s head off a little too literally….

Peekaboo

We’re guessing this Sri Lankan elephant is already regretting the game they started playing with the baby elephants nearby.

Baptism of the unwilling convert

Not convinced this green frog is ever going to be a true believer.

OMG he's at it again

“Just who do you think you’re impressing?” huffs this red-crowned-crane to his show-off mate.

Great hair day

Blow drying at home just never gets the same results does it? Sympathy to this Amazonian umbrellabird.

Now, which direction is my nest?

Caught in the wind, this gannet might find it a bit tricky to find their way home.

Liking this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING 

England cricket team’s latest secret weapon

This sifaka monkey looks like it’s practicing its bowling action. Maybe the England cricket team should give him a call?

Monday again

We all know the feeling. Maybe this little nutria should just claim a duvet day.

I’ll tell you a secret

What could this baby racoon be whispering to her mother? Mum racoon looks a little bit stunned by the revelation.

Mantis flamenco

Is this mantis auditioning to appear in hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing? He certainly wouldn’t stand any nonsense from the professionals.

Song of the zeisel

This little ground squirrel (known locally as a zeisel) looks to be in fine voice. He's even using that flower as a microphone.

Hide and seek

“Ready or not, here I come!” We’re not sure if the topi in the background was actually asked if he wanted to play games with this cheetah…

Gang of four

We wouldn’t want to get in the way of these Rockhopper penguins. They clearly have some scores to settle.

Nagging is a universal concept

Whatever this lion has, or hasn’t, done he is going to regret it.

Shake, ruffle, rattle, and roll

Well, something’s obviously ruffled this white-tailed eagle’s feathers and he doesn’t look too happy about it.

Time to cool off

“When will they learn?” An exasperated Adelie penguin shrugs at the camera as her over-heated chick flakes out on the rocks to cool down.

Walk like an Egyptian goose

Hands in pockets, head bowed, this goose is the epitome of a jaded office worker ambling home after a long day. Not now avocet, not now.

Go to your room

This exhausted owl parent hasn't slept in three nights. More importantly, she hasn't slept during the days either.

Snowball

No, the eyes and beak haven't been painted on. This is a photo of a white grouse, and it's extremely silly.

The cabaret bear

Yoda, Gandalf, and the tortoise from Kung Fu Panda all rolled into one, this polar bear cub looks wise far beyond his years. Don't be fooled though: he'd rather eat your intestines than teach you about individuality and the self.

Everyone can fly

A multi-sensory photo, we can hear this image almost more than we can see it. Thump, thump, thump.

Teddy buddies

Coming to you live from the set of Paddington 3....

Excuse me sir but I think you're a little too young to be smoking

This exceptionally casual fox has its own personal Cuban supplier. The smoking jacket, armchair, and half-full whiskey glass are just out of shot.

Look at right bro

"And if you look straight ahead you'll see the common or garden 'mist deer.' Please make sure your flash is turned off."

One for the family album

This mummy and daddy gannet are steeling themselves for a difficult parents evening. No wonder Junior looks sheepish.

Part of your world

We're glad this bizarre photo never crossed the desk of Hans Christian Andersen, or Disney's recent live-action remake could have looked extremely different.

Mona Lisa smile

This owl could be enjoying a joke with its friends, or mid-way through a rampaging murder spree. It's the intensity in the eyes... we're a little bit scared.

Fellowship

These king penguins can do the macarena way better than we can. Now we want to see them do the zombie dance from Thriller.

Dispute

Younger sibling telling on his brother, or door-to-door salesman flogging a pyramid scheme? You decide.

Oh my, talk about poking your nose into someone else's business

We're going to let this photo speak for itself. We don't trust ourselves to comment...

Singing in the rain

This wood pigeon is screeching into the void with all the ferocity of a pensioner telling kids to get off his lawn. Sing it, sister.

What do you mean, smile? I am smiling!

This lioness has just finished yawning but is doing everything she can to conceal a grin. Being a lioness is serious business, after all.

What shall I write next?

An inquisitive bear cub has discovered an eagle feather and is contemplating penning a "bear"-all memoir.

Room for one more?

This guillemot has dinner in its beak and is about to dive into a horde of very hungry youths. We have a sneaking suspicion it may have to fly off in search of more supplies...

Life is a catwalk

A pair of lappet-faced vultures strut their stuff as South Africa's Kruger National Park serves as their catwalk.

What cat-like reflexes?

This three-month-old lion cub tries his best to stop himself tumbling down a tree. It hasn't quite gone to plan.

Not my cup of pebble

A Picasso triggerfish isn't a fan of whatever it's just eaten, as its most recent meal from the coral has come right back up.

Pegasus, the flying horse (buck)

A nilgai (also known as bluebuck) ventures too close to a sarus crane's nest. The tallest flying bird in the world attacks the bull from behind, giving the composition a Pegasus-inspired feel.

Stand-up comedian

Something funny? This female monkey is calling her children – or maybe she's just delivered a great punchline.

This time it's personal

This salmon isn't going to be anyone's dinner; not even a terrifying brown bear's. The small-yet-mighty fish slaps its predator right in the face.

He said what?

A little lisper squirrel is bewildered by whatever it's seen. Or perhaps it was interrupted? Regardless, the photographer left some cookies to apologize for the inconvenience.

It's all kicking off

Two wallabies are either fighting, playing or practicing for the cheerleading team.

Stronger than you think

These cheeky meerkats are in a playful mood, as one wraps its arms around the other's neck. Is he overreacting or just in a silly mood?

I can't believe what I'm seeing

A young proboscis monkey can't believe his eyes at whatever he's just seen.

Show us yer' teeth

This bull moose seems pretty smug with his impressive antlers. Either that, or he's about to show off by attacking...

You can't see me, can you?

This introverted owl hides in the chimney of a collapsed house. Judging from his expression, he doesn't like visitors.

Talk to the fin

This gentoo penguin has had enough with his friend and gives the sassiest snub we've ever seen.

Catching 40 winks

This weary long-tailed macaque mother is dreaming of a much-needed spa day as her baby clings on.

Where's your head at?

This king penguin isn't too sure about his pal's headless prank.

New profile pic

Fancy a drink? This monkey from Abha, Saudi Arabia, knows his best angles and is ready to mingle.

Incoming!

Is this a new yoga pose we don't know about yet? This red squirrel jumps through the air during a rainstorm, giving the shot a dramatic, movie-like slow motion feel.

Nobody panic

This elegant swan is doing a good job of calming down whoever's in front of them. 

Wait for me!

An adorable penguin chick sprints across the ice, propelling its arm as it flees. Perhaps it's just spotted a tasty-looking fish.

Tight fit

An inquisitive owlet tries to sneak a view of the outside world for the first time, although the mother owl doesn't seem very happy with the arrangement.

Your lunch break's over

A wild monkey taps his pal to make sure he's feeling fully relaxed – or to remind him of an upcoming meeting.

Don't mind me

A duckling waddles across a turtle-covered log after a few slippery falls. Why swim when you can walk across these handy stepping stones?

Encore! Encore!

This bear cub isn't ready for the curtain close; he's having too good a time performing to a captivated audience.

Mum's the word

What secret has this American red fox promised to keep? Moments later, it disappeared into the trees ahead, adding to its mystery... 

Buckaroo

This zebra dreams of being in the rodeo by delivering his best back-kick.

He's behind you

Minding its own business, this heron is completely unaware of a hippo yawning directly behind it, and that it could easily be engulfed in its jaws. It also appears to be unaware (or blissfully ignorant) that it's standing on the back of another hippo.

Hi, everybody!

This friendly raccoon has just been fed shrimps by the photographer. No wonder he's so happy. 

Frog in a balloon

Sometimes we all just want to live in our own little bubble, just like this chilled-out frog.

Smiling elephant seal

Glad someone’s happy! We wonder what's made him grin like that.

Where do you think you are going?

The puffin on the left seems a little peeved that his mate is trying to slink off.

Cohn the speed skater

Looks like this Stellar sea eagle is going for gold.

Are you kidding?

Whatever the joke is, we’d like to be in on it.

Stuck squirrel

That’s a mighty tricky situation to have to wriggle out of…

The rock star

In her head, this female lizard is headlining the main stage at Glastonbury.

Smooching owlets

“Oh, get a room,” thinks the weary little owlet on the left.

Parrotfish loves to be washed

This grinning parrotfish is clearly enjoying being cleaned up by his little fishy friends.

You’re not my mother

That look says it all. The inquisitive red-bellied woodpecker has definitely got the wrong nest.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING