Forty-two hilarious photos were named finalists in the 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, which received more than 7000 entries from around the world. But there could only be winner, and this week Ken Jensen took out first prize with Ouch! a brilliantly timed photo of a Golden Silk Monkey in China getting himself into a bit of trouble on a wire.
“Although hilarious to us humans, and probably the best example of anthropomorphism, this was actually (and ironically) a show of aggression – as the male monkey warned off competing males from the female monkeys,” said Jensen. For his prize, Jensen will be heading out on safari soon, courtesy of Alex Walker’s Serian.
A thoroughly deserving winner, Ken’s shot was up against some pretty fabulous finalists. Other category award winners included John Speirs, who took out the Affinity People’s Choice Award for 2021 with his very well-timed shot of a pigeon in Scotland.
Photographer Chee Kee Teo won the Creatures under the Sea category with his super-funny shot of “a smooth-coated otter biting its baby otter to bring it back to and fro for a swimming lesson”.
And while not a category winner, one of our favourites in the Starts at 60 office was Jan Piecha with their picture Chinese whispers. “The little raccoon cubs are telling secrets to each other.”
The Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards were founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, who wanted to promote wildlife conservation through humour. “The huge number of images we receive every year illustrates the appetite there is to engage with conservation and reminds us that wildlife truly is incredible and hilarious and that we must do all we can to protect it,” said Joynson-Hicks.
“Whittling down the list of photographs was harder than ever this year,” added Sullam. “It was great to see a range of animals, from the incredibly rare to the humble pigeon.”
Some 10 per cent of the total net revenue from this year’s competition will be donated to Save Wild Orangutans, an organisation that works with the primates in Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo.