The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are a fun, lighthearted yearly competition that celebrates wildlife photography and the hilarious moments that animals can create. The goal of the award is to bring awareness to the beauty and importance of wildlife while also having fun.
A strong trait of highly sensitive people is a connection with animals. For myself personally, I even go so far as to say I sometimes prefer the company of animals to people. So, I really enjoy seeing the results of this competition each year.
The photos make me smile, some are so hilarious you can't help but laugh. The photographers must be so quick to get these shots, and I can only imagine they are in some exotic destination.
Wildlife photography can be tricky. The natural environment is unpredictable, and animals are very sensitive to their surroundings. But sometimes, animals can surprise even the most experienced photographer, leading to moments which make for highly entertaining photography.
Humor in the Wild
Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam founded the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Both are professional photographers and passionate conservationists who set up this global and free-to-enter photography competition showcasing images of the earth's most incredible wildlife.
The 2022 competition is the sixth edition of the awards with the theme “Humor in the Wild.”
The competition has become an international sensation, with photographers from all over the world submitting their funny animal shots.
The competition is open to everyone, and you must submit a minimum of 4 images that feature animals in their natural habitat.
In 2022 the competition had over 5,000 entries from over 85 countries.
Photographs should demonstrate a sense of humor, with animals in funny poses, expressions, or actions. Entries are judged by a panel of leading wildlife photographers, conservationists, and photo editors.
Comedy Wildlife Photography Award Winner for 2022
The awards are divided into three categories: Professional, Amateur, and Junior. The overall winner will be chosen from the Professional category and receive a cash prize of $2,000.
The winner of the competition for 2022 is Jennifer Hadley, for her classic photograph of a lion cub losing its grip on a tree trunk entitled ‘Not so cat-like reflexes.'
The moment was captured by Jennifer in the Serengeti, Tanzania, late one afternoon. The three-month old lion cub was trying to climb down the tree but it didn't go as planned!
The lion cub was able to right himself before he reached the ground and ran off with his siblings. This shot also won the Creatures of the Land category.
The main photo for this post is of two penguins which was also taken by Jennifer and titled “Talk to the Fin”. That photo won the “People's Choice Award,” where the public can vote for their favorite image.
Below are some of my favorites from the competition, I only wish that I were as good a photographer as the people who took these images. I would love to hear the wonderful stories of what lead up to them taking each photo.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are a great way to celebrate wildlife and bring attention to the hard work of conservationists. If you're a great photographer, make sure to enter your funniest wildlife photos for next year's awards!
HSP Review is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. This enables us to have an ad-free website. Learn more on our disclosure page.