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From a racoon whispering a very important secret to its mum, to three polar bears enjoying a judo bout, the most hilarious wildlife pictures of the year have been revealed.
The prizewinners of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2024 will be announced on December 10, but until then you can marvel at the once-in-a-lifetime shots captured by amateur and professional photographers around the world.
There are no rules about what kind of equipment is required - pics from camera phones are allowed - the only prerequisite is that they make people giggle.
A number of awards will presented at the yet-to-be-announced ceremony, for pictures featuring mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish and other aquatic species, and insects.
There’s also a portfolio prize for the best four pictures taken by a single photographer, a junior category (under 16s) and a young photographer award (for under 25s).
And at the end of it all the Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year will receive a trophy and a one week safari for two people in Kenya.
Here are your finalists. Which one make you laugh the most?
33. 'Wait! Which Zebra is in front!!!' by Sarosh Lodhi (India)
An image that causes optical illusion making it difficult for the viewer to tell which zebra is in front. Shot in Kenya, I stayed focused on these two as they started coming towards each other. I was expecting them to interact, nozzle or maybe fight, but they coincidentally got aligned in a way to cause this beautiful optical illusion. The picture was taken in Kenya. | The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024/Sarosh Lodhi
34. 'Smooching owlets' by Sarthak Ranganadhan (India)
Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I guess that's also true in the case of spotted owlets. It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin shut eyes. | The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024/Sarthak Ranganadhan
35. 'Nagging is a Universal Concept' by Scott Frier (United States)
I liked this image as It reminds me of the old TV commercial for Maxell audio cassette tapes called: "Blown Away Guy". On safari in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania we hung around a Kopji of rocks because there were lion cubs being nursed when this action happened. I was just lucky enough to catch it. I have this image printed and hung on a wall of my home, everybody who sees it laughs at it. One of those people mentioned that I should entered it in this contest so here it is. | The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024/Scott Frier
36. 'Laughing out loud' by Ingo Hamann (Germany)
This newborn seal seems to be laughing at a good joke. | The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024/Ingo Hamann