The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards were co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam to create a competition that fused exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour in a bid to help promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats that our precious planet relies on. Each year the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation and this year Comedy Wildlife are delighted to be working with the Born Free Foundation
The Overall Winner, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on Tuesday 8thDecember at an Awards Night in London, which will be followed by a glorious exhibition for one week (and one week only)from 9 -13 December showcasing all the 2026 Award Finalists at the Gallery@Oxo, thanks to the support of our awesome competition partners at Nikon
. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists During my expedition to Svalbard Archipelago in the Autumn of 2024, I visited small Moffen Island. There were a couple of groups of Walruses resting on the beach. They were very relaxed lying next to each other, presumably to conserve body heat in the freezing Arctic temperatures. These animals are incredibly social, frequently lounging in large, tightly packed herds.Autumn 2024, Svalbard (Moffen Island). While I was sitting on the beach, minding my own business and enjoying a majestic Arctic sunrise, the local mafia decided to roll up on me. Walruses are basically giant, blubbery cuddle-bugs who pile on top of each other for warmth and gossiping. But out of nowhere, a squad of eight of them swam right up to check me out, using their whiskers to scan me like human security. They spent 10 minutes giving me the ultimate Arctic inspection before swimming off. Managed to capture them popping up all at once—looking like absolute Sea Gangsters about to drop the hardest album of 2024. Unforgettable
A gang of Walruses on Moffen Island pop up for a look | Marek Jackowski
13. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists Is it a squirrel? A bird? A superhero?... No one really knows, and that's exactly why this image belongs just as much in this category as in any other category of the competition!... More seriously, behind this photograph there is an entire year of waiting for all the right conditions to come together, allowing me to finally capture this image. It looks as though it came straight out of a science-fiction movie, yet it is completely real!
Remi Schnell
14. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists One cautious step at a time, this chameleon crossed the sandy ground as if every pebble were dangerously hot. With one hand raised and its most serious face on, it looked less like a reptile and more like a tiny green action hero. Camouflage was clearly not part of today’s plan
Robert Gondek
15. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists 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!
Rosie Barrett
16. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists Beach Bodies aren't given, they are Earned! This furry apex predator begins her morning routine with some rigorous calisthenics, including some "Bicycle Kicks" to work those abs, (abdominal muscles). No rest days for this dedicated beach babe as she is puts in the sweat equity to get herself ready for the upcoming summer season.
Scott Suraino