Hilarious wildlife photos are guaranteed to make you smile

Wild and crazy wildlife moments captured on film can make you crack up at the odd poses, faces and moments that are caught with the click of a camera shutter. And some images are so funny, they deserve an award.

Each year the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards honors the world’s best and most hilarious images of wildlife. For the 2021 awards, 42 images made the final shortlist out of more than 7,000 entries from around the world.

The contest, which is dubbed “conservation through competition,” aims to raise awareness for wildlife preservation efforts. It was started in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam.

“The huge number of images we receive every year illustrates the appetite there is to engage with conservation and reminds us that wildlife truly is incredible and hilarious and we must do all we can to protect it,” Joynson-Hicks said in a press release.

Here are some of our favorites, including this bonus video entry that the Comedy Wildlife Awards shared on Facebook. It’s entitled “seeing your buddy after COVID lockdown.”

Axel Bocker’s “Don’t worry. Be happy!” damselfly looks like they’ve got a big, goofy grin on their bug-eyed face in this close-up photo.

We like to imagine this baboon was singing “O sole mio” when photographer Clemence Guinard captured him mid-performance, his hands clutched to his furry chest.

While Sarosh Lodhi entitled his photo of a langur monkey “Dancing Away to Glory,” can’t you imagine this primate is also practicing martial arts?

Give this photo the alternative title of “Angry Bird.” Photographer Patrick Dirlam calls it, “Did I say you could take my picture?”

This box fish captured in Curacao by Philipp Stahr is called “Sweet lips are for kissing,” and we think the “Pout-Pout Fish” would agree with that sentiment.

We know this is a photo of a South African pied starling, but don’t they remind you a little of “Sam the Eagle” from The Muppets? Kudos to photographer Andrew Mayes for this capture of a “Monday Morning Mood.”

“If I stand real still, maybe they’ll forget I’m here and leave the picnic basket behind.” Photographer Pal Marchhart calls this photo of a brown bear “Peek-A-Boo.”

Poor pigeon! John Speirs caught this fowl move in his image titled, “I guess summer’s over.”

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are broken down into various themed categories (land, air, underwater, portfolio, videos and photographers under the age of 16). Entries are free to submit and the only limits on content are that there be no captive animals and no pets.

The overall winner of the contest will receive a trophy and a weeklong safari for two in Kenya. The portfolio category winner gets a year’s worth of web hosting for their photography website. Other category winners receive Think Tank collection bags.

Anyone can vote for the people’s choice award through Oct. 12. Both that award and the overall winners will be announced Oct. 22.

Which funny wildlife photo do you think deserves the top award?