The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards has announced the finalists of its 2026 competition. This year’s edition drew more than 10,000 entries, which the competition says was the highest number in its history. Photographers hailed from 112 countries.

This year’s finalist selection includes 40 individual finalists, 3 under-16 finalists, 4 Portfolio Category finalists and 9 video finalists. The individual competition also includes 4 categories of its own: mammals; birds; reptiles, amphibians and insects; and aquatic species. The Overall, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on December 8 at an awards ceremony in London.

The competition was founded in 2015 in part to promote conservation, and to that end, every year it lends support to a sustainable conservation organization. This year, it is working with the Born Free Foundation, an international charity that rescues and protects wild animals from exploitation while also conserving threatened species and their natural habitats.

You can see a selection of the finalist images below, and see the full gallery at the competition website.

Push Over – Barbara Seiberl-Stark, Austria

© Barbara Seiberl-Stark / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer’s description: A lion pride was playing in the riverbed of Ruckomechi in Zimbabwe – The picture was taken during my very first Safari this year in june in Zimbabwe. We were out for a game drive early in the morning and were lucky to spot a pride of young lions in the dried-up riverbed just in front of the Kavinga-Camp. The rising sun bathed the landscape in glorious light and the lions had obviously a lot of fun. As there were 7 of them, it was hard to decide in wich direction or on what scene to point the camera. From all photos, I took this morning ‘Push over!’ was the funniest.

Location: Zimbabwe

Technical details: Sony a1 II | Sony FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS | F2.8 | 1/1600 sec | ISO 1000

Lessons – Heather Cudworth, USA

© Heather Cudworth / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: Amboseli was in the midst of a 4 year drought. The land was extremely parched. Elephants are known for giving themselves dust baths. This behavior provides protection from the sun and soothes their skin. While observing elephants tossing dust and mud over their bodies is somewhat common, I don’t think the huge plume of dust delivered directly to this youngsters face would have been possible if not for the extreme dry conditions. While this photo is objectively funny, there is a lesson to be learned by us humans, too. Our actions create ripple effects which spread far and wide. Much like this cloud of dust this baby elephant is about to endure! Mum took a break from walking to enjoy a soothing dust bath. She began to pick up piles of dirt, dust, and grass and toss them effortlessly over her head. She paused for a moment then gathered a particularly large amount of debris. She pulled her trunk back as if she was winding up for a strike-out pitch, then proceeded to shower her youngster with presumably the most high-pressure dust bath he’d ever experienced, directly to the face! Whether she was teaching him a lesson in cleaning his skin, keeping his mouth shut, or both, I don’t know. However, I am certain she got her point across. Listen to your mother, little one.

Location: Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Technical Details: Canon EOS R5 | Canon RF 100-400mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | 300mm | F5.6 | 1/200 sec | ISO 100

If I can’t see you – Cliff Fawcett, UK

© Cliff Fawcett / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer’s description: I watched this bull in South Africa stroll toward a group with absolute confidence, until he got within twenty yards. Suddenly, the trunk went up, the eye went into hiding, and he executed a very slow, very awkward U-turn. We’ve all been there; he just happens to weigh six thousand kilos. I was observing an elephant herd in Addo National Park, when one juvenile caught my eye, repeatedly swinging his trunk with reckless abandon. It meant I completely ignored the other thirty magnificent, full-grown elephants at the same waterhole to stay glued to one goofy youngster messing about. I kept the frame tight, resisted the urge to look away, and waited for the motion to peak. I certainly didn’t plan for him to blindfold himself, but the moment he slapped his trunk across his eye, it was peak toddler logic: if I can’t see you, you can’t see me. The second I saw it on the screen—I knew it was going straight to the Comedy Wildlife Awards.

I like to say I have a mind trained in psychology and a life shaped by adventure. What is means is that my work is rooted in an understanding of what grabs human attention and creates lasting meaning and all as an excuse to see as much of this crazy beautiful planet as possible. I’m not obsessed with gear and I don’t put too much focus on rigid composition rules. It’s about learning to see the quiet signals in images that actually move people.

Location: Addo National Park, South Africa

Technical Details: Nikon Z7 II | Tamron 100-400mm F4.5-6.3 Di VC USD | 400mm | F6.3 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 800

Sexy mantis – Diego Perez, Peru

© Diego Perez / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: A tiny green mantis peeks over a leaf during a night walk in an area of Cusco, Peru, that is still waiting to be protected. I decided to enter this photograph because almost everyone I showed it to had the same reaction: they laughed immediately, even if they could not quite explain why. At first, the mantis seems to be sunbathing, or perhaps striking a rather glamorous pose. But there is also a small visual trick: half of the insect is hidden behind the leaf. Its hind legs disappear from view and, suddenly, its enormous forelegs begin to look almost like a pair of human legs.

I have photographed mantises several times before and have always found them surprisingly difficult subjects. Their long bodies, tiny heads and oversized forelegs are almost the opposite of the proportions that normally make an easy portrait. At first, I tried photographing this one with its entire body in the frame, but the images felt too familiar. So I began lowering my angle and using the leaf to hide different parts of the insect. That was when the image suddenly came together.

It was actually the first insect I photographed on the very first night of the trip, during a night walk in Camanti, Cusco. I was there documenting the forests and wildlife of the proposed Bosques del Araza Regional Conservation Area, one of Peru’s rainiest landscapes and an area increasingly threatened by illegal gold mining. The proposed protected area seeks to safeguard the headwaters of several important rivers and the biodiversity they support.

Location: Camanti, Cusco, Peru

Technical Details: Canon EOS R5 C | Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO | F14 | 1/200 sec | ISO 100

The different one – Dirk Koster, Netherlands

© Dirk Koster / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: I took this photo in 2025 in the Masai Mara, Kenya, in the Oltepesi area. Three young giraffes were standing side by side on the open, dry savanna and looked back at me with great curiosity. Then I noticed that right behind the middle one stood a single umbrella acacia, perfectly lined up with its head and neck. Suddenly that giraffe seemed to be ‘wearing’ the tree, like a green hairdo or a rather fancy hat. The other two looked completely normal, which made the middle one ‘the different one’. Nothing was staged or arranged; it was simply a matter of being in the right spot at the right moment, and seeing it. For me that is what wildlife photography is about: looking closely, being patient, and letting the animals tell the story. Sometimes they have a great sense of humour. Dirk Koster is a semi-professional nature and wildlife photographer from the Netherlands. After many years as a business consultant, he now has more time for photography. What he looks for in nature is not so different from his former work: not just what is there, but how things relate to each other. He is drawn to stories and interaction between animals. His photos are found, not staged. His work is regularly awarded on https://dk-foto.nl, and in mid-November 2026 the book ‘100 mooiste bomen van Amsterdam’ (The 100 most beautiful trees of Amsterdam, Noordboek) will be published with his photographs. Earlier he photographed in Guatemala as a member of Photographers Without Borders.

Location: Masai Mara

Technical Details: Sony a1 | Sony FE 50-150mm F2 GM | 63mm | F4 | 1/1600 sec | ISO 100

Angry Bird – Jan Wittmer, Germany

© Jan Wittmer / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: During my photo trip to the island of Helgoland, I encountered a goldcrest for the very first time – and it was love at first sight. Europe’s smallest bird wandered around on the ground right in front of me, presumably searching for food. To get a perspective at eye level, I placed my camera on the ground. My heart was pounding, and my finger was glued to the shutter as the tiny bird darted back and forth every second. Suddenly, it came to a complete stop and looked straight into the camera. That was the exact moment this photo was taken.

Location: Helgoland, Germany

Technical Details: Sony a1 | Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS | 400mm | F5.6 | 1/4000 sec | ISO 1600

Are You Kidding Me? – Kevin Lohman, USA

© Kevin Lohman / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: A young Great Horned Owl had barely settled onto its perch before a protective squirrel launched a surprise aerial tackle, knocking it into the grass below. The most unbelievable part? The squirrel repeated the stunt two more times. The owl and squirrel were shaken up, but unharmed. I have been observing and photographing Great Horned Owls at this location for around nine years, and I had never seen anything like this before. An adult pair was raising two chicks, and once the young owls began branching, I started visiting them regularly in the mornings and evenings to observe their behavior. On this particular morning, I spotted one of the seven-week-old owlets perched in a pine tree along the path.

As soon as I saw the young owl, I stopped and watched it for a few minutes. It was fairly close to the ground, and I did not want to get too close. While I was standing there, the owlet hopped onto another nearby branch. I liked the way the pine branches framed it against the sky, so I raised my camera and began photographing as the young owl looked up and over its shoulder.

Just as I pressed the shutter for a burst of images, a squirrel suddenly launched from a nearby branch and landed directly on the owlet’s head, knocking both animals out of the tree. It happened so quickly that the squirrel essentially photobombed my photograph! I moved to another position and found the owlet sitting in the grass. It appeared to be fine and gradually worked its way from the ground back into the tree. Then, incredibly, a squirrel knocked it out of the tree again. The owlet climbed back up once more, this time moving closer to its mother, who was perched nearby. Surely that had to be the end of it. But no. A squirrel knocked the young owl out of the tree for a third time! After photographing these owls for so many years, I could hardly believe what I was watching. The same young owl had been knocked out of the tree three times in about an hour and a half.

After the third encounter, the adult female began hooting, and the owlet eventually made its way back up to her perch. She began preening the young owl, and the two finally settled down together. I stayed for a while longer, but everything became quiet. When I returned that evening, the mother and owlet were still perched together, with no squirrel in sight.
That morning, as was often the case during my morning visits, I was there by myself. I was handholding a Nikon Z9 with a NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S. Working with a long lens allows me to remain at a distance, stay quiet, and reposition easily without disturbing the owls. Handholding also lets me respond quickly when unexpected behavior unfolds. In this case, I was shooting a burst at 20 frames per second at exactly the moment the squirrel appeared. I certainly wasn’t expecting a squirrel to come flying into the frame and land on the owl’s head!

Location: Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Technical Details: Nikon Z9 | Nikon Z 400mm F2.8 TC VR S | TC engaged | F4 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 1000

Elvis – Paolo Torre, Italy

© Paolo Torre / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: This caiman emerged from the water in an area with a lot of floating vegetation, and part of it remained on its head. It resembles a 1950s rock and roll hairstyle.

Location: Pantanal, Brazil

Technical Details: Nikon D300S | 300mm | F5.6 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 200

Oops – I think I just parped – Carolyn Moore, UK

© Carolyn Moore / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer’s description: In the spring of this year, I went with a friend to a spot that we knew had a healthy population of hares. Our plan was to see how close we could get to the hares without disturbing them using a little of what we knew about fieldcraft – it is important to stay below the horizon when tracking hare and to disguise solid shapes – such as human shapes! Sure enough, there were a few hares in the field and the grass was just long enough to give a bit of protection to the hares and set a nice backdrop for the photographs. I set myself up with a long lens and tripod on the edge of the field using camouflage netting and wearing camouflage clothes. I stood next to the hedge using the netting to break the solid shapes that would be caused by me and my tripod. The next stage was to send my friend off to walk the perimeter of the field on the other side of the hedge with the intention of not disturbing the hares but encouraging them into, rather than away from, the field.

I didn’t need to wait for long, several hare came close to where I was standing without seeing me, enabling me to snap away without worrying them at all. I think the image shows just how relaxed this little fella was. It was a joy to watch them going about their activities and seemingly totally relaxed. This is what wildlife photography is all about for me!

Location: Wiltshire, UK

Technical Details: Canon EOS R5 II | Canon EF 500mm F4 L IS II USM + Canon EF 1.4x III | F5.6 | 1/2000 sec | ISO 2000

Ballet Dancer – Robert Nairn, UK

© Robert Nairn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: I am 69 and an amateur photographer and member of Ayr Photographic Society. I am a general photographer but enjoy wildlife photography and was inspired by David Bailey and bought an Olympus OM1 in 1978. However, having four children I did not return to more serious photography until after I retired. This image was taken in Dumfriesshire, Scotland with a Nikon z8 and 100-400 mm lens.

Location: Dumfries, Scotland

Technical Details: Nikon Z8 | Nikon AF-S 300mm F2.8G IF-ED VR II | F3.5 | 1/3200 sec | ISO 500

#ForTheGram – Rosie Barrett, UK

© Rosie Barrett / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: I went on a photography mission in Finland and my absolute dream species was the brown bear. After a few days of observing bears in the woods, I was lucky enough to encounter a family with 3 playful yearling’s. They were all climbing up and down the trees and one stopped for just a moment in this perfect pose. Pretty sure he knew it was for Instagram..un-bear-lieavable!

Location: Finland

Technical Details: None provided

Spicy Orangutan – Tanner Mansell, USA

© Tanner Mansell / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: A wild orangutan in the rainforests of Borneo appears to deliver a perfectly timed gesture toward the camera. As he finishes a meal with one finger extended, it creates the unmistakable impression that he is flipping off the lens. Though entirely coincidental, the moment captures an almost unsettling reflection of ourselves in one of our closest relatives. Taken in the disappearing jungles of Borneo, the photograph highlights both the intelligence and personality of these critically endangered great apes. Orangutans have so much personality, and there’s something wonderfully familiar about their expressions and gestures. Even though he was completely wild and just enjoying his food, I couldn’t help wondering, “Does he know what he’s doing?” That’s what makes the moment so funny to me.

I also hope the photograph encourages people to appreciate orangutans and care about protecting them. Beyond the humour, these remarkable animals face the loss of their forest habitat, and their future depends on conservation.

Location: Borneo Jungle

Technical Details: Sony a1 | Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II | 200mm | F4 | 1/640 | ISO 640

Out of water – Thong Duy Vu, Vietnam

© Thong Duy Vu / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: On a gentle sunlit afternoon, a little sunbird excitedly set off for a five-star spa deep in the forest. From afar, he spotted a “natural bathtub” – a bright red banana blossom, filled with cool water and plenty of sweet nectar. He landed on the blossom and savored the sweet nectar. After his treat, he hopped into the “tub” and began enjoying the refreshing, cool water. He tilted his head this way, stretched his wings that way, and wagged his tail, sending droplets splashing all over his body. The feeling was incredibly relaxing and refreshing. With his tiny beak, he carefully preened each feather until all the dust was gone. Then, he hopped back onto the edge of the tub, enjoyed some more nectar, and didn’t forget to sing a few cheerful notes as if to say, “Today I must be the freshest, cleanest, and most dazzling bird in the forest!” He jumped back into the tub, repeating his routine—tilting his head, spreading his wings, wagging his tail—but alas, why wasn’t there a single drop of water left? He looked up at the sky and exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, where did all the water go? What kind of half-finished bath is this?” He thought, this spa definitely deserves a one-star rating. I should’ve just bathed in the rain earlier. What a buzzkill! In the end, he had no choice but to dust off his wings and fly away, muttering to himself, “Next time I go to a spa, I need to check the calendar.” And just like that, the fancy five-star spa trip ended with the water running out.

Location: Vietnam

Technical Details: Nikon D4S | Nikon AF-S 200-400mm F4G IF-ED VR II | 400mm | F4 | 1/1000 sec | ISO 1000

Little Godzilla – Udo Harms, Germany

© Udo Harms / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: This squirrel had taken a bit too much in its mouth – but with a few firm bites, the greenery was made to fit. Taken with the Nikon Z6 II and AF-S Nikkor 500mm PF, 1/1000 sec., f8.0, Iso 4500

Location: Hannover, Germany

Technical Details: None provided

Playing Dress-Up – Phiané Oosthuizen, South Africa (U16 category)

© Phiane Ooshuizen / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Photographer description: I captured this photograph of a Southern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris chalybeus) at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa. These tiny nectar-feeding birds are closely connected to the fynbos of the Cape and play an important role as pollinators. Southern Double-Collared Sunbirds are one of the nectar-specialist sunbird species found in the Cape Floristic Region, and Kirstenbosch is home to an incredible diversity of birdlife, with more than 125 bird species recorded in the Garden. What made this particular moment so special was that the bird was feeding from a flower. He pushed his beak deep into the flower to reach the nectar, and when he pulled away, the petal came with him. For a moment, it looked as though he had suddenly put on an enormous beak and was playing dress-up! It was such a funny and unexpected little moment that I was so grateful to have captured it.Photographing birds like this requires a lot of patience. They are incredibly quick and constantly moving, so you can spend a long time waiting for the right moment. I love that aspect of wildlife photography – you cannot force the photograph to happen. You have to slow down, sit quietly and observe. Eventually, if you are patient enough, these tiny birds begin appearing all around you, almost like little fairies moving between the flowers. Kirstenbosch is one of my favourite places to photograph because of the incredible combination of wildlife, flowers and the Cape landscape. The Garden lies against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and contains beautiful natural areas of fynbos and forest. The Cape Floral Region is exceptionally rich in plant diversity, and the fynbos provides an especially important habitat and food source for sunbirds and other pollinators.

For me, wildlife photography is about more than simply getting a technically good photograph. It is about noticing the small, unexpected moments in nature and capturing something that someone else might otherwise miss and never get to see, and now the joy of that moment can be shared. This photograph is special to me because it captures both the beauty and the playful, unpredictable character of one of the Cape’s smallest birds

Location: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Western Cape, SA

Technical Details: Canon EOS R5 | Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM | 363mm | F7.1 | 1/1250 sec | ISO 5000