Comedy wildlife photography awards 2024 – in pictures

Loved-up brown bears and whispering raccoons feature in this light-hearted look at a selection of finalists from the Nikon Comedy Wildlife awards. A winner will be announced on 10 December

Main image: The speed skater

A Steller’s sea eagle in drifting sea ice off the coast of Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan Photograph: Mark Meth-Cohn

  • Hello world

    In a dark forest in Maashorst in the Netherlands last autumn, a happy red ant looks down at us. I like the tones of the autumn leaf. So warm. The ant was fast, but with a little help of a flashlight I was able to freeze the motion
    Black hole with ant peering through autumn leaf

  • Mantis flamenca

    On my way back in the car from a photo walk around a marsh near my town (Onda in Spain), I braked suddenly. This was when I first saw my friend, the Flemish mantis. You can imagine the faces inside the passing vehicles, seeing a car with its indicators on, the door open, and a madman lying on the ground with his camera
    Mantis mediterranea holding arms up in a comedic pose

  • The speed skater

    A Steller’s sea eagle in drifting sea ice off the coast of Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan
    A Steller’s sea eagle skating on ice

  • The rock star

    Fan-throated lizards are found only in the Indian subcontinent, where they have evolved under the influence of changing climates. Female lizards do not have a fan, while male lizards inflate their neck pouch to attract the female in the summer season. Here’s the female, standing upright to escape the summer heat
    Female fan-throated lizard holding a stick

  • In love

    After the meeting ... comes the best hug. Bears in Sitka, Alaska
    Bears hugging in a lake

  • I am coming

    A razorbill attempts a very wobbly landing in Saltee Islands, Ireland
    A razorbill attempts a very wobbly landing watched by friends

  • Smooching owlets

    It was truly a funny sight to see two spotted owlets (in Gurgaon, India) trying to get some privacy as their offspring stood next to them with a grin and closed eyes
    Three spotted owlets on a branch

  • I’ll tell you a secret

    A tiny raccoon whispers into her mother’s ear in Germany
    Three racoons in a tree

  • Easy fellas – Hajime

    Hajime is the term used by the referee in Judo to invite opponents to start fighting. Here, the standing polar bear appears to adopt the gesture to prepare the other bears to fight (Arctic wildlife refuge, Alaska)
    Three polar bears on ice with the one in the middle standing

  • Hide and seek

    We were on safari in Kenya and saw this beautiful female cheetah looking for a mate. A group of topi were also keeping a close eye her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think the cheetah is about to shout: ‘Ready or not, here I come!’
    Cheetah hiding behind a tree with a Topi in the background

  • Holding on for a ride

    After a nap in Lake Clark national park, Alaska, the mother brown bear wanted to go for a walk, but the cubs wanted a ride
    Brown bear cubs riding on the back of a big brown bear

  • Song of the Ziesel

    A ground squirrel (Ziesel in German) in Vienna, Austria, calls to his family that he’s found food
    Squirrel sings holding a flower like a mic

  • The contemplative chimpanzee

    This was shot in the jungles of Uganda when following a group of about 50 chimpanzees. They were clearly thinking how close chimpanzees are to humans
    Chimpanzee scratches his chin in jungle

  • Mafia boss

    This flying squirrel in Hokkaido, Japan, looked as if he was sucking a cigar, like a mafia boss
    Flying squirrel in a tree sucking on small twig

  • Gecko fashion model

    On the sands of the desert, a Namib sand gecko suddenly appeared with a smile on its face. It positioned itself perfectly, posing for a portrait worthy of a National Geography cover, as if to say: ‘I’m ready for my cover!’ (Sandwich harbour, Namibia)
    Namib sand gecko posing on sand
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