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The annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards announced their winners and they are hilariously candid photos of animals in the wild -- from dramatic facial expressions to perfectly timed coincidences.
The contest is about more than just silly photos. Founders Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks started the competition to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. They hope the pictures encourage people to shop responsibly, be mindful of their water use, and speak out about environmental issues -- in addition to making people laugh.
Scroll below to have a giggle!
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As the heat started to rise, one of the two dominant adult male lions of the pride decided to move from his position to seek shade. As the male stood and started walking off, one of the young cubs who is blind in one eye ran toward the male, leaping up toward him. Rather than leaping onto his back as we expected, the cub's focus instead appeared to be directed toward the adult male's nether regions, with claws fully protracted! Fortunately for the cub and the male, he narrowly missed his 'crown jewels' and the male walked on, with all body parts unscathed! Photograph: Sarah Skinner/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
These two females were actually having a scrap with each other, clearly not happy with being close. People keep saying to me that the series of photos makes them look like they're doing the 'waltz' dance. This image always makes me smile given the pose! Photograph: Alastair Marsh/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
Fox squirrels on an early spring day in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. “Got my little buddy in the cavity nest over in the Law Quad. I asked who would like a peanut — I think he understood me!” Photograph: Corey Seeman/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
A gentoo penguin jumping in front of a wave. Photograph: Elmar Weiss/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
A Swedish red squirrel makes a wish as it 'blows' on a dandelion. Photograph: Geert Weggen/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
Unlike most other marine mammals, sea otters have no blubber and rely on exceptionally thick fur to keep warm. As the ability of the fur to repel water depends on utmost cleanliness, sea otters spend much of their time (while they are not sleeping or eating) grooming, offering photographers an unlimited number of anthropomorphic opportunities. Photograph: Harry Walker/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
"People think us Austrian marmots are shy inhabitants of the Alps. Eating herbs, living in caves and hibernating during winter. We do these things, but there is a secret life of marmots too! If no one is watching us we like to party." Photograph: Martina Gebert/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
Shooting the red deer rut in Richmond Park, I noticed this deer covered in bracken. It's not unusual for them to adorn themselves with bracken and grass, but this one's taken it to extremes. Photograph: Mike Rowe/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
This sweet little Japanese snow monkey ran around after he had rolled in the snow. Photograph: Roie Galitz/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
It was impossible to know what the disagreement was about, but this king penguin and Antarctic Fur Seal argued quite vocally for several minutes. The amazing thing is that the fur seal didn't use its considerable size advantage to put a quick end to the fight. Photograph: Thomas Mangelsen/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
This photograph is of a 10-month-old chimp named Gombe, grandson of a chimp that Jane Goodall studied and knew well. Gombe was leaning against his mother, Glitter. This image speaks to the similar behaviours between our closest relatives in the animal world. Photograph: Thomas Mangelsen/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
One beautiful Sunday morning, my family drove to Nairobi National Park. We came across a group of white rhinos walking together and grazing. While we were watching them, we saw an egret behind this rhino following it impatiently. Little did the egret know she would be rewarded with a surprise shower. Photograph: Tilakraj Nagaraj/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
This snow monkey was looking at me when I took this picture. I think that he thought, 'What an ugly guy!' He was taking a bath in the hot thermal water while the temperature outside was -15 degrees. Photograph: Txema Garcia Laseca/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
A couple of birds have family disagreements. Photograph: Vlado Pirsa/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019
