Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards: Laugh Out Loud at 2025 Finalists

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards finalists for 2025 have just been announced. This contest never fails to make me smile, and guess what: that’s exactly what happened when I saw this year’s batch of photos.

The 2025 shortlist is officially out, featuring 40 standalone Images, three portfolio entries, and, for the first time ever, 10 video entries. If you’re in need of a serotonin boost today (and I sure am), scroll down and get ready for some serious chuckling.

[Related Reading: Comedy Wildlife 2025: The Funniest Wildlife Photography so Far]

Among the 2025 gems, you’ll find a gorilla dancing like no one’s watching, a “smoking” duck channeling its inner Sherlock Holmes, and the most impressive display of frog teamwork I’ve ever seen. But let’s start with the one that got me giggling instantly: leopard siblings that look like that “bored nightclub girl” meme.

I also quite enjoyed this one. “You Can Leave Your Hat On” instantly started playing in my head when I saw it:

“With so much going on in the world, we could all use a bumper dose of fun and laughter,” said Tom Sullam, co-founder of the contest. And honestly, he couldn’t be more right. This year’s finalists are doing some serious mood-lifting, and they’re doing it well.

And while we’re busy laughing, let’s not forget the heart of the competition – wildlife conservation. Each year, the Comedy Wildlife Awards team partners with a sustainable conservation organization. For 2025, they’re once again supporting the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN). This UK charity empowers grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South. With over £24 million channeled into 220 projects across 80 countries, we can say these laughs definitely come with a purpose.

[Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Wildlife Photography: Gear, Tips & Ethics]

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Categories

The Contest categories for 2025 include:

• Alex Walker’s Serian Mammals
• Spectrum Photo Birds
• ThinkTANK Reptiles and Amphibians
• Fish and Other Aquatic Species
• Insects
• Nikon Young Photographer (under 25)
• Nikon Junior Category (under 16)
• Amazing Internet Portfolio
• Nikon Video Category

The judging panel includes legends like Kate Humble, Hugh Dennis, Will Burrard-Lucas, Daisy Gilardini, and Will Travers OBE – joined by Nikon Creators Cameron Whitnall, Hannah Stitfall, and Roxy Furman.

[Related Reading: These never-seen-before entries to the Comedy Wildlife Awards will make your day]

Prizes, Exhibitions, and People’s Choice

The Overall Winner, Category Winners, and Highly Commended entries will be announced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at a special Awards Night in London. Following the event, you can catch all the finalists up close at a free exhibition at Gallery@Oxo from 10–14 December.

The overall winner scores a dream one-week safari with Alex Walker’s Serian in the Masai Mara, plus a handmade trophy from the Art Garage in Tanzania. Finalists are also in the running for amazing Nikon gear – including the Z6III, Z50II, and brand-new Nikon ZR cameras. To top it off, the winner will also get top-tier ThinkTANK camera bags.

You can have your say in the contest, too: public voting for the People’s Choice Award opens on 10 December and runs until 1 March 2026. So, mark your calendars, and vote for the image that had you snorting with laughter. One lucky voter will even win a £500 cash prize! Head over to the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website for more info, and to cast your vote from December 10. And while we wait for the winners, let’s enjoy the finalists, have some laughs, and blow off some steam.

Individual Entries

Portfolio Entries

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