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18 of the funniest finalists in the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Which one do you think is the funniest?

via Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards (used with permission)

A scared squirrel and a cheetah playing hide 'n seek.

For the past 9 years, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has made people laugh with its competition, highlighting great nature photography that's too funny to find itself in National Geographic. This year is no different. The photography contest has announced 40 standalone images that have made the cut to compete for the top prizes after over 9,000 entries from 98 countries.

The top prize winner will receive a one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in Masai Mara. Among the entries are a cheetah playing hide-and-seek behind a tree, a squirrel stuck in a tree trunk and a frog caught in a bubble of his own making. The photographs are a lot of fun, but they also promote the message of conservation.

"We are thrilled to unveil the finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards, showcasing the incredible talent and creativity of photographers from all around the world," Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe's Senior General Manager of Marketing, said in a statement. "These images capture not only the humor and charm of wildlife but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and from all different walks of life."

Each year, the competition supports a sustainable conservation organization and this year, Comedy Wildlife is delighted to be working with Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South.

Upworthy looked at the 40 finalists and chose 18 of our favorites. Check out the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website to see all 40 finalists and vote for the People's Choice Award.


1. "Holding on for a Ride" (brown bear) by Alexander Fine, U.S.A.

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsCubs riding a brown bear.© Alexander Fine/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"After a nap, the mother brown bear wanted to go for a walk, but the cubs wanted a ride." — Alexander Fine

2. "Alright Mate, Back Off, This is My Bird" by Andy Rouse (king penguin), Georgia

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsSome penguins getting into a fight.© Andy Rouse/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This image was taken in South Georgia; it really does show a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear, "Back off! This image was highly commended in the 2006 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year." — Andy Rouse

3. "I'm Too Sexy for My Love" by Arthur Stankiewicz (hippopotamus), Zimbabwe

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA hippo with a crown of flowers.© Arthur Stankiewicz /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"One of the 'lazy' mornings we have decided to stop by the pool with hippos while in Mana Pools NP. My idea was to try and catch fighting hippos, yet they all were quite peaceful. I have positioned on the bank, safely from the potential charge and waited. Some of them raised their heads in curiosity or when proximity to the other individuals was too close. Then I got this idea to catch the portrait with water plants decorating he head,It looked like the guy just got our of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face." — Arthur Stankiewicz

4. "The Contemplative Chimpanzee" by Arvind Mohandas (chimpanzee), Uganda

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA chimp with something on his mind.© Arvind Mohandas /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Shot in the jungles of Uganda, following a group of around 50 chimpanzees. This one was obviously contemplating an important issue, on a day of realization and reaffirmation of how close chimpanzees are to humans!" — Arvind Mohandas

5. "Otter Guru" by Charles Janson (sea otter), U.S.A

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA sea otter's blessing.© Charles Janson /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"In a kayak with my camera balanced precariously on the gunnel, I stayed very still while floating by this resting Sea Otter. It stayed relaxed (you can tell because it is still floating on its back) and kept on grooming its fur. With its peaceful face and upturned paws, it reminded me of a Guru meditating." — Charles Janson

6. "Saying My Prayers" by Christine Haines (sea otter), U.S.A

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA praying sea otter. © Christine Haines /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"I visited Lake Clark National Park to photograph bears. While there, I had an opportunity to travel to Duck Island, where I saw an otter floating next to the boat. Otters hold their food with their paws, making it appear like they are praying." — Christine Haines

7. "Whiskered Tern Crash Landing" by Damyan Petkov (whiskered tern)


A whiskered tern misses the landing.© Damyan Petkov /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Whiskered tern head hit the rock when try to land." — Damyan Petkov

8. "Frog in a Balloon by Eberhard Ehmke (frog), Germany

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA frog in a bubble.© Eberhard Ehmke /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"During a photo shoot at the pond, I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble. This resembles a tree bell." — Eberhard Ehmke

9. "Smiling Elephant Seal" by Gabriel Rojo (elephant seal), Argentina

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsAn elephant seal that appears to be smiling, but he isn't. © Gabriel Rojo /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"These multi-ton giants fight to keep their harem of females. In the instant of the photo, the animal seems to be smiling. But the reality of the situation is that its expression of astonishment and smile is at the moment of fleeing quickly, because the dominant male was on his way to a bloody fight. It is better to preserve physical integrity... I better go." — Gabriel Rojo

10. "Laughing Out Loud" by Ingo Haman (seal), Germany

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA seal that appears to be luaghing.© Ingo Haman /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This newborn seal seems to be laughing at a good joke." — Ingo Haman

11. "Where Do You Think You are Going" by Jörn Clausen (puffin), U.K.


comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA puffin appears to be taking a bold step. © Jörn Clausen /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"This picture was taken in 2015 during my first visit to the Farne Islands (UK). The islands were full of puffins, kittywakes, shags, guillemots and razorbills, and I never before and since then have taken so many photos in such a short time. I think I really "saw" this image only later that day when I checked my haul." — Jörn Clausen

12. "Song of the Zeisel" by Kath Aggiss (European ground squirrel), Austria

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA squirrel calling out to his family.© Kath Aggiss /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Ground squirrel (local name Zeisel) is calling the family to say that he's found food." — Kath Aggiss

13. "Hide and Seek" by Leslie McLeod (cheetah and topi), Kenya

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA cheetah hides to catch a topi.© Leslie McLeod /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"We were on safari in Kenya and happened upon this beautiful female who was looking for a mate. A group of topi were also keeping a pretty close eye her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is just about to shout out, "ready or not, here I come!" — Leslie McLeod

14. "Are You Kidding" by Marti Phillips (Cape Fur seals), Namibia

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsSeals laughing together.© Marti Phillips /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"Two Cape Fur seals having a laugh." — Marti Phillips

15. "Gecko Fashion Model" by Michaela Bordoli (gecko), Namibia


A smiling desert gecko.© Michaela Bordoli /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024

"

As we walked on the sands of the Namib Desert, a gecko suddenly appeared, emerging out of nowhere with a smile on its face. It positioned itself perfectly, posing for a portrait worthy of a National Geography cover. It seemed to say: 'Take my picture, I'm ready for my cover!'" — Michaela Bordoli

16. "Stuck Squirrel" by Milko Marchetti (squirrel), Italy


comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awardsA squrrel stuck in a tree.© Milko Marchetti /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"When the squirrel entered, he removed his feet from the trunk for a moment, and for the moment, it seemed as if he was blocked at the entrance to the burrow." — Milko Marchetti

17. "Wait, Which Zebra is in Front?" by Sarosh Lodhi (zebra), Kenya

comedy wildlife, nature photography, photo awards© Sarosh Lodhi /Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024


"An image that causes optical illusion, making it difficult for the viewer to tell which zebra is in front. Shot in Kenya, I stayed focused on these two as they started coming towards each other. I was expecting them to interact, nozzle or maybe fight, but they coincidentally got aligned in a way to cause this beautiful optical illusion." — Sarosh Lodhi

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Joy

People are hilariously debating how pandas survive in the wild

Buitengebieden/Twitter, @ArtMcFall/Twitter

No longer an endangered species, pandas seem to thrive on being goofy.

Pandas aren't real. They can't be. There's no way this big, bumbly black-and-white bear that somersaults down hills and noshes on bamboo all day long actually exists.

Have you ever seen any other animal on Earth that looks remotely like a panda? No, you haven't. Why? Because they're not real. No animal could be that adorable and hilarious and stuffed-animal-like in real life.

I kid, of course. Kind of. Pandas are just the cutest goofballs in nature. They barely look real when you just see them in still shots, but when you see them in action, it's just silly shenanigan after silly shenanigan.

I mean, look at this:

And this:

And yet again:

Seriously, how do these creatures survive in the wild?

There are some hilarious theories. Twitter user "Art McFall" shares the idea that they simply aren't real. "They're actors in suits, originally created as a prank for a World's Fair in 1908," they wrote. "It's got out of hand and now the Chinese government run a school where 1,000 panda artists train and are then sent around the world as covert animal ambassadors for China."

Okay, but if you go back and watch those videos again picturing people in panda suits, it doesn't seem too far-fetched.

Some shared a theory that they're basically stoned all the time—that the bamboo they eat has some kind of effect on their energy. (Pandas are mostly vegetarian, with almost all of their diet coming from bamboo. It doesn't give them food poisoning as is posited below, and in fact digests almost like meat for them. But it does take a really long time to eat enough of it to sustain their huge bods, so they spend a lot of time sitting around looking like they've got the munchies.)

More fun panda facts:

Did you know that pandas will sometimes climb trees backwards, hind feet first, until they're in a full handstand so they can whizz higher up on the tree to mark their scent? Yup. (They also poo up to 40 times a day. So no, you really don't want a pet panda. Sorry.)

Scientists aren't totally sure why they're black-and-white. Could be camouflage, especially in the snowy areas of China where they live, but they don't really have a need for camo since they have very few natural predators.

(Take note, humans: If we could maybe stop killing each other for two seconds, we too could live a silly life full of carefree fun like pandas do.)

This description was my favorite, though:

"Dis iz a bear. She lives on da mountains, this is how they have evolved to travel. They are floooooof and they are sof and warms. They have no dangers but humans. They are peace and love and bamboo. Save da bears."

Floooooof!

"If a bear starts rolling fast enough it can orbit the earth." Sounds right to me.

But pandas will never roll that fast. Case in point:

So yeah, pandas are real. And if you want to know the answer to the original question, they survive in the wild by being not nearly as playful as they are in captivity. Thankfully, giant pandas are no longer listed as endangered thanks to conservation efforts in China and around the globe. Let's keep up that energy so we can keep these marvelous creatures thriving both in the wild and in captivity when they can't be released.

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National Park Service shares helpful—and hilarious—advice for how to handle a bear encounter

National Park Service/Facebook

People often think of government bureaucrats as being boring stuffed shirts, but whoever runs social media at the National Park Service is proving that at least some of them have a sense of humor.

In a Facebook post, the NPS shared some seasonal advice for park-goers about what to do if they happen to encounter a bear, and it's both helpful and hilarious. Not that a confrontation with a bear in real life is a laughing matter—bears can be dangerous—but humor is a good way to get people to pay attention to important advice.

They wrote:

"If a bear clacks its teeth, sticks out its lips, huffs, woofs, or slaps the ground with its paws, it is warning you that you are too close and are making it nervous. The bear's nervous? Heed this warning and slowly back away. ⁣What else should you do or not do if you come across a bear in Yellowstone?

⁣🐻 Do not immediately drop to the ground and "play dead." Bears can sense overacting.⁣⁣

🐻 Do not run, shout, or make sudden movements. ⁣⁣

🐻 Do not run up and push the bear and do not push a slower friend down…even if you feel the friendship has run its course.⁣⁣

🐻 Running may trigger a chase response in the bear and you can't outrun a bear. Bears in Yellowstone chase down elk calves all the time. You do not want to look like a slow elk calf. (Apologies to the elk calf.)⁣⁣

🐻 Slowly putting distance between yourself and the bear may defuse the situation. ⁣⁣

🐻 Draw your bear spray from the holster, remove the safety tab, and prepare to use it if the bear charges.⁣⁣

🐻 In most cases, climbing a tree is a poor decision. Bears can climb trees (especially if there is something up the tree that the bear wants). Also, when was the last time you climbed a tree?⁣⁣

🐻 Running to a tree or frantically climbing a tree may provoke a bear to chase you. If the friend you pushed down somehow made it up a tree and is now extending you a hand, there's a good chance you're not getting up that tree. Karma's a bear."

HA.

They also shared this link to more bear safety tips on the NPS website.

Well done, random National Park Service employee. Thank you for entertaining us while educating the public about wildlife safety at the same time.

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17-year-old runs up and shoves mama bear off a wall in her backyard to protect her dogs

@bakedlikepie/TikTok

Now here's something you don't see every day.

On Memorial Day, security footage caught an incredible encounter between a mama bear with her two cubs and a human mama bear with her four dogs. Don't try this at home, kids.

Surveillance video shows Hailey Morinico, 17, intervening when a brown bear began swatting at the family's four dogs from atop a brick wall in the yard of their Bradbury, California home.

Woman Pushes Bear Off Ledge to Save Her Dogswww.youtube.com

The video, which was shared on TikTok by Hailey's cousin (@bakedlikepie) with music for effect, has been viewed more than 47 million times on TikTok alone, in addition to going viral on Twitter.

@bakedlikepie

My cousin Hailey yeeted a bear off her fence today and saved her dogs. How was your Memorial Day?! (WTF?!) #ohno #badass #brave #fight #bear

And if you want to see the raw footage without the hilarious "Oh No" music:

@bakedlikepie

Reply to @cynthianatsalazar @tempurashrimp guess you a fighter and a flighter haha. Love you, you badass! #badass #cousinhailey


Hailey explained in a follow-up video that her family lives in a mountainous area and that bears wandering into their yard isn't a rare occurrence, especially in the summer. However, the shoving of the bear off the wall was unusual.

At first, when Hailey heard the dogs barking, she thought they were barking at another dog or a squirrel or something. When she went out to the yard to tell them to stop, she saw the bear leaning over the wall trying to pick up the youngest of the family's four dogs. Hailey said that her first instinct was to push the bear, which is exactly what she did.

It's common knowledge that you don't mess with a mama bear, and it's unclear whether Hailey noticed the two cubs that were on the wall just before the confrontation. She is fortunate that she was not attacked by the bear herself. She said she didn't have to push it very hard to make it lose its balance, perhaps because she took it by surprise while it was distracted by the dogs.

Hailey ended up with a sprained finger and a scraped knee, but she and the dogs are both fine following the incident.

"My daughter is a hero," Hailey's mother Citlally told McClatchy News. "My daughter literally made eye contact with death and pushed it off a ledge."

This is one of those stories that no one would believe if it hadn't been caught on film. "She ran up and shoved the mama bear right off the wall!" Yeah, right. Oh, you mean she literally did exactly that? Okay then.

Lessons learned: Humans, don't mess with mama bears. And bears, don't mess around with Hailey.

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