The winners of this year’s comedy wildlife photos have been announced and the cheeky shots are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is an annual competition that not only showcases the hilarious animals that roam free around the world, but also works to highlight the importance of conserving our planet’s wildlife.
And from cute dancing bear cubs to a polar bear photographer there was plenty of hilarity to be seen around the world this year with the competition’s stars hailing from the icy glaciers of the Arctic Circle to the wild plains of Africa.
Photographer Mary McGowan from Florida, US, took home first prize this year with a shot of an adorable squirrel appearing to enjoy a spot of tai chi. The cheeky snap was taken just at the right moment and captured the tiny animal with arms stretched wide and mouth agape.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkZywTdlT-1/
McGowan also took the Affinity People’s Choice Award and the Alex Walker’s Serian Creatures of the Land Award for the amusing image.
Shane Keena, from southern California, took home the Creatures of the Air Award for his photo of an alert-looking owl poking its head up over a hill, with its eyes wide open.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgU278QADgX/
Michael Watts’s shot of these cute bear cubs doing a little dance together was also honoured, with the funny picture delighting wildlife fans around the world.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpW4fOgCiDg/
Meanwhile a hilarious snap by photographer Kallol Mukherjee proved that timing is everything when it comes to capturing animals on film. The photo, which was taken at Gorumara National Park in West Bengal, India, shows a rhino perfectly lined up in front of a peacock, giving the appearance its wearing a rather extravagant tutu.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfizJEZhImO/
Valterri Mulkahainen secured a finalist spot with ‘Too many unread emails’; an image of a bear pulling a pose that most people would relate to on a daily basis.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpEtltGi6LW/
One of the most magical shots on the winner’s list was of a polar bear peering through the lens of a camera. The spellbinding shot taken by Roie Galitz in Svalbard, in the Norwegian Arctic, captivated nature fans and offered a unique insight into life in the extreme north.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhl1DHslgt-/
Another amusing shot on the list came from Valterri Mulkahainen, who managed to capture a shot of three bear cubs climbing a tree in a nature-themed gamed of hide and seek with their mum.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYXqPQC2Es/
For those in the market for a tour guide, this helpful bear looks like he’s up for challenge! The friendly grizzly was was snapped in Alaska by Jonathan Irish, and appeared to be drawing drivers’ attention to a sign asking them to be careful.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoTI1JCCFts/
Who knew squirrels were so flexible? In an image taken by Geert Weggen in Sweden, a red squirrel was caught doing the splits on a pair of flower stalks.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn878haBTLA/
And finally an image titled ‘Honeymoon is over’ was awarded a trophy for showcasing two birds sitting on a branch appearing to have a martial dispute.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjXDKwvF7h-/