The funniest wildlife photos of the year

• The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards recognize the funniest images in wildlife photography.
• The 2024 contest benefits the Whitley Fund for Nature, a wildlife conservation charity.
• Photos show bears, otters, seals, zebras, penguins, and other animals striking hilarious poses.

The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards announced the winners of its 2024 photography contest on Tuesday.

The photos feature a variety of animals striking amusing poses in the wild and spotlight the photographers’ skills and ingenuity.

In September, 40 finalists were chosen out of 9,000 entries from 98 countries. A panel of judges chose the winning photos in categories highlighting mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and aquatic animals, as well as 10 “highly commended” photos and an overall winner. Fans of the contest also voted for their favorite image to win the People’s Choice award.

The photography contest benefits the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that awards grants to environmental and wildlife conservation leaders.

Take a look at the funniest wildlife photos of the year. Photographers’ captions have been condensed and edited for clarity.