From Yawning Lion Choirs to Kung Fu Eagles: The 2025 Comedy Wildlife Photos Have Arrived

Wildlife photography often captures dramatic, powerful moments, but sometimes nature is just downright funny. The 2025 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards celebrate this lighter side, showcasing perfectly timed shots of animals being clumsy, expressive, and surprisingly relatable. This year’s selected photos feel almost human.

Moments of Pure, Unfiltered Comedy

The collection features moments that look straight out of a script. In Finland, photographer Valtteri Mulkahainen captured a one-year-old bear cub that appeared to smile directly at the camera. In another shot from the USA, John Osborn caught a "hilariously lucky moment" of three lions yawning simultaneously, aptly titling it "The Choir."

Other images highlight relatable struggles. One photo shows a bird on a windy day, proudly carrying more nesting material than it can handle, with the caption, "Now Which Direction Is My Nest?" Another, titled "Headlock," by Jean Marie Spiers, shows two guillemots in a territorial dispute over precious nesting space. These snapshots remind us that the animal kingdom isn't just majestic; it's also filled with everyday absurdity.

More Than Just a Laugh: A Mission for Conservation

At its heart, the competition blends fun with awareness. While the images provoke an immediate laugh, they also serve a deeper purpose. "By showing animals in these charming, unexpected ways, the awards inspire empathy and encourage viewers to care about conservation in a simple, accessible way," the organizers state.

This approach turns a photo of a squirrel having a "Bad Hair Day" or two Steller Eagles looking like they're practicing "Kung Fu Tango" into an entry point for a bigger conversation. The competition proves that a little humor can go a long way in connecting people with the wildlife we need to protect.