Every year, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards spotlight the playful and unexpected moments that unfold in the natural world, revealing just how much personality animals can show when the timing is right. Capturing these scenes takes patience, sharp instincts, and a little luck, but the results offer viewers a delightful peek at creatures caught in their most charming, awkward, or unintentionally funny moments. From perfectly synchronized yawning lions to a tiny fish sporting what looks like a cheeky grin, this year’s finalists celebrate the humor nature shares when it’s not trying to perform.
The images also honor the talent and timing of the photographers, whose work highlights expressions and behaviors that feel surprisingly human. Whether it’s a mischievous fox, a dramatic lemur, or a bear cub posing like it knows it’s on camera, each shot freezes a rare instant that’s guaranteed to spark a smile. Both wildlife fans and photography enthusiasts will find plenty to love in this standout collection.
Now Which Direction Is My Nest?
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Photo by Alison Tuck. A gannet gets nesting grass blown into its face on Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire.
Baptism of the Unwilling Convert
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Photo by Grayson Bell. Two frogs in Maine appear to mimic a dramatic dunking pose.
Landing Gear Down
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Photo by Erkko Badermann. A red-throated loon lands unsteadily on water in Finland.
Fonzies Advertising
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Photo by Liliana Luca. A lemur in Madagascar licks its fingers like a snack commercial moment.
Bad Hair Day
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Photo by Christy Grinton. A grey squirrel in British Columbia with wet fur sticking up like a spiky hairstyle.
Monkey Circus
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Photo by Kalin Botev. Baboons play in a tree in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.
The Choir
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Photo by Meline Ellwanger. Three lions yawning at the same time in a perfectly timed moment.
Smile, You’re Being Photographed
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Photo by Valtteri Mulkahainen. A young bear cub in Finland appears to smile at the photographer.
I Just Can’t Wait To Be King
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Photo by Bret Saalwaechter. Lion cubs pester their mother in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
Go Away
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Photo by Annette Kirby. A Steller’s sea eagle guards its fish from other birds in Hokkaido, Japan.
Aaaaaw Mum
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Photo by Mark Meth Cohn. A baby gorilla appears embarrassed by its mother in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains.
Headlock
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Photo by Warren Price. A territorial guillemot appears to bite another bird’s head during a dispute.
Smiley
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Photo by Jenny Stock. A bluestriped fangblenny fish pops its head from coral with a cheeky expression.
Hit the Dance Floor
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Photo by Paula Rustemeier. Playful foxes kick up sand while interacting on a Netherlands nature reserve.
Digging for Gold
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Photo by Maggie Hoffman. A chimpanzee picks its nose in Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
High Five (Overall Winner)
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Photo by Mark Meth Cohn. Overall Winner of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.
