Today, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards released the shortlist for their 2022 competition.
This year’s final shortlist of 40 standalone images and 10 Portfolio entries has a cute raccoon waving to the camera, a cool fox winking at us, a squirrel superhero flying through the air, and a galloping zebra giving it all he’s got.
These photographs were selected from tens of thousands of photos submitted by professional and amateur photographers from all over the world and feature a remarkable assortment of amusing wildlife.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were launched in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, who sought to create a competition that highlighted the hilarious side of wildlife photography while also encouraging wildlife conservation.
On December 8, the Overall Winner, Category Winners, and Highly Commended Winners will be announced.
Martin Grace, etc. “Keep your cool and your wits about you,” King Penguin (Volunteer Point, East Falkland) – Two King Penguins observed at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. The right bird’s look may be incomprehensible, but it must be wondering where its mate’s head has gone.
Emmanuel Do Linh San, ‘I’m going to strangle you!’, Meerkats (South Africa, Kalahari Trails Game Reserve) – I was on foot in South Africa’s Kalahari Trails Game Reserve, following a bunch of meerkats. The majority of people, including grownups, were in a playful disposition. It provided me with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to record really interesting and dynamic exchanges amongst some group members. 
In the photograph I’ve chosen, there is no animosity between individuals, but rather an interaction reminiscent to humans when one of your pals makes a joke about you, you pretend to strangle them, and they respond by opening their mouth wide like a fool.
Hippo yawning next to a heron standing on the back of another hippo in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Say cheese!, Grey triggerfish, Ballistes capriscus (Faial, Azores) – Arturo Telle Thiemann
A pair of triggerfish photographed in the Azores gazing into the camera.
Despite their humorous appearance, these fish may be rather violent. In this instance, they did not attempt to bite me, but the domeport of my camera housing got scratched… life is tough… at least I wasn’t hurt.
John Chaney, ‘Fight Back,’ Bear (Alaska) – This salmon decides to punch the bear in the face rather to become its meal.
Ahmed Alahmed, “Cute,” Monkey (Saudi Arabria) – Monkeys of the city of Abha, where they congregate and steal food in a variety of methods.
Tmea Ambrus, “I leap rather than fly,” Screech Owl (Hungary) –
The screech-owl preferred to leap rather than fly. He was somewhat sluggish.
Corinne Kozok, ‘Tombstoning Guillemot,’ Guillemot (Farne Islands) – the Guillemots were arriving with fish for their young and appeared to simply dive into the throng of youngsters.
Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, “Shark Moose,” Moose (Wyoming, United States of America) –
Is this bull moose grinning… or about to attack!?
Little owl fledgling (south of Israel (Judean Lowlan)) – Shuli Greenstein, “Rushing Little owl fledgling,” Little owl fledgling (south of Israel (Judean Lowlan)) –
In Israel’s Judean Lowlands, I’m informed I can find a large number of little owls. So, I embarked on an early-morning expedition and discovered a large number of small owls standing on the ground, on stones, near their nests, and on tree branches. Suddenly, my attention was drawn to two fledglings that were playing on the ground. One of them entered my line of sight. I began taking sequential photographs, and this is what resulted.
Eastern Screech Owl (Largo, Florida, U.S.A.) – Mark Schocken, “Tight Fit!”
I planned to observe and photograph this eastern screech owl nest in a Florida park. One morning, a few days before the two owlets fledged, one of the owlets attempted to slip into the nest hole with its mother, possibly in an attempt to see the outside world for the first time. I’m pleased I was there that morning to photograph the amusing event. The moment only lasted a few seconds, since Mom did not appear to be pleased with the arrangement. Check out her facial expression
Southern elephant seal (Snow Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) – “Uncomfortable pillow” by Andrew Peacock.
These elephant seal pups practiced their jousting abilities for several minutes prior to collapsing from tiredness. One appears to be sleeping considerably more soundly than the other!
Buck-a-roo! is a song by Vince Burton.
Zebra (Amboseli, Kenya) –
A zebra’s impression of the 1980s children’s game Buck-a-roo is excellent. It also appears to be fart-powered.
Mute Swan, “Funny Walk” (Maksimir Park, Zagreb, Croatia) – Bojan Bencic
The swan was engaged in combat with another swan on a frozen lake, pursuing him around.
Lee Zhengxing, ‘Lisper Squirrel’, Squirrel (Zhuque National Forest Park, Xi’aan, China) –
In June, we encountered this small squirrel while climbing a mountain. Instead of fleeing as soon as he detected our approach, he continued to stand on the brink of the cliff and stare into the distance before turning around and glaring at us as if we had disrupted his meditation. We gave him some biscuits for his difficulty, and I captured a shot of him expressing gratitude; I later discovered he was a lisper.
Long-tailed macaque (Singapore) – A baby long-tailed macaque clings to its exhausted mother.
Jennifer Hadley, Lion cub (Serengeti, Tanzania) – “not so cat-like reflexes.” This three-month-old cub was in a tree with his sister. The other lionesses were found on the ground and in different trees. He wanted to descend, so he strolled all over the branches in search of a suitable position, before deciding to just jump. It was likely his first time climbing a tree, and his descent went poorly. However, he was alright after landing on the ground. He stood up and fled with the other cubs.
Cassowary bird (Etty Bay, Queensland, Australia) – Lincoln Macgregor, “Your Picnic’s Mine!”
When this Southern Cassowary confidently plopped down on a picnic blanket, it frightened away all of the picnickers and began devouring the fish and chips spread out before it. This photo was taken right as this cassowary swallowed some food, giving it a cheeky and mischievously satisfied expression!
Dave Shaffer, “Curtain Call II,” Black bear cub (Wisconsin, United States of America) 
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This child thoroughly enjoyed playing with a stick. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing him.
Valtteri Mulkahainen, “Romatic,” Brown bear (Martinselkonen, Finland) – No information available.
Saverio Gatto, ‘Maniacs’, Lappet-faced Vulture (Kruger National Park (South Africa))
Three headed (‘Kerberos’), Kamchatka brown bears (Kuril lake, Kamchatka, Russia) – Paolo Mignosa
The three cubs resemble the Greek mythological three-headed hound Kerberos.
I CU boy!, Spotted Owl (Bikaner, India) – Arshdeep Singh
We traveled a few hundred kilometres away to investigate the animals of a small town named Bikaner. As a result of covid, I did not travel for over a year. We hired a guide to explore the surrounding area. On the final day of our journey, we encountered a pipe in a city where we noticed an owlet. I had previously clicked owls in a pipe, so I knew I wasn’t mistaken. We waited briefly, and it was not long before one of the spotted owlets emerged from the pipe. Before entering, he closed one of his eyes as if he wanted to say, “I CU, boy!” It was hilarious when he came out and stared at me straight on; he then closed the other eye as if he wanted to say, “I CU, boy!” I instantly took a picture when he struck this position.
Happy Feet, Emperor Penguin (Antarctica) – Thomas Vijayan
This chick has reached the age where they can fish for their own food.
A duckling and turtles (Juanita Bay Park, Lake Washington, Kirkland, Washington, U.S.A.) by Ryan Sims.
It was adorable to see a duckling waddling across a turtle-covered log in the Juanita marshes, only to fall off after a few turtle crossings.
Miroslav Srb, ‘Hello everyone’, Raccoon (Florida, USA) – I photographed a raccoon while feeding it prawns on a Florida beach. Then he thanked me in this manner.
Jumping Jack, Red Squirrel (Netherlands) – Alex Pansier
A red squirrel leaps during a thunderstorm, allowing one to view the raindrops in flight.
Federica Vinci, “Monkey Wellness Centre,” Monkey (Baphuon Temple, Cambodia) –
Walking near a Cambodian temple where groups of wild monkeys resided, I witnessed the following: a wild monkey in complete repose, as its companion took care of it.
Jagdeep Rajput, ‘Pegasus, the flying horse,’ Bluebull, and the Indian saras crane (Keoladeo National Park, India) –
Actually, this is an Indian Saras Crane attacking a Bluebull from behind; the bull had strayed close to the Saras’ nest, in which it had placed a single egg. The tallest flying bird, the Saras Crane, spread its enormous wings and attacked the bull from behind, pushing it away from the nest.
‘Barf,’ Picasso Triggerfish (Marsa Shagra, Egypt) – Paul Eijkemans
This photograph of a Picasso Triggerfish was shot in Egypt at Marsa Shagra. The fish has just vomited coral remnants it ingested while chewing on coral.
Michael Eastwell, et al. “Everything is kicking off!” Cape Hillsborough, Queensland, Australia – Wallabies In addition to its beauty, Cape Hillsborough is famed for the kangaroos and wallabies that live there. I visited the region for three consecutive sunrises, however it was on my last morning that I was able to photograph this stunning scene: two wallabies playing / fighting on the beach as the sun broke through the surrounding clouds.
American Red Fox (San Jose, California, U.S.A.) – Kevin Lohman, ‘The Wink’
An American Red Fox strolled up to the edge of the forest, sat down, and then winked before turning around. Afterwards, this cunning fox vanished into the forest.
Talk To The Fin! by Jennifer Hadley, Gentoo Penguin (Falkland Islands)
This scene was filmed on the Falkland Islands. Two gentoo penguins were lounging on the beach when one of them dusted himself off and snubbed his partner.
“Stop and gaze” by Andy Evans, Probiscis monkey (Kinabatangan River, Sukau, Borneo) –
After learning that Borneo’s borders would reopen in April 2022, I couldn’t wait to visit the island and photograph its bizarre and fascinating fauna. After two years without visitors, it appeared that the wildlife was as surprised to see me as I was to see them. This young proboscis monkey regarded me with astonishment as I navigated the Kinabatangan River.
‘Comedian’ Ahmed Alahmed, Monkey (Saudi Arabria) –
The photograph depicts her laughing at the people in front of her as she calls her children.