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
17. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists In the vast openness of Amboseli's lakebed, two elephants were crossing the landscape while a distant jeep made its way across the horizon. From where I stood, perspective brought them briefly into alignment, creating the illusion that the lead elephant was about to give the vehicle a gentle but unmistakable nudge.
Shailza Singhal, India
18. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists One meerkat insists on giving a last-minute grooming inspection while the others are trying their best to look respectable.
Subi Sridharan
19. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists A wild orangutan in the rainforests of Borneo appears to deliver a perfectly timed gesture toward the camera. As he finishes a meal with one finger extended, it creates the unmistakable impression that he is flipping off the lens.
Tanner Mansell
20. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists For four winters now, I have had the privilege of photographing white-tailed eagles on the frozen sea around Kustavi, on Finland's western coast. During the first winter, two white-tailed eagles always came to the spot, presumably a pair. Since then, there has only been one eagle. I assume that the eagle in the Shake, Ruffle, Rattle and Roll photo from a couple of years ago is the same individual that has been coming this year, although of course there is no way to be certain. The eagle kept coming to the spot throughout last winter, as long as there was ice on the sea. The water on the ice didn't seem to bother the sea eagle, and it approached with the same confident stride as before.
Tapani Linnanmäki