At Large  December 6, 2021  Anna Claire Mauney

This Year's Comedy Wildlife Photo Award Winners

Created: Mon, 12/06/2021 - 09:00
Author: chandra
© Chu han lin / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021

This year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, an annual contest showcasing the funniest snapshots in nature photography, has provided the comedy relief we all need once in a while. This year’s winners include a few bald eagles, an otter parent and child, some bear cubs, a very playful elephant, and many other animals. 

Judged by a panel of experts, this year's overall winner, Ken Jensen, has been awarded a week-long safari trip for two in Kenya with Alex Walker’s Serian and a handmade trophy from the Wonder Workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. While Jensen's winning photo Ouch​​​​​​ might appear to show a golden silk monkey in a painful position, this is actually a display of aggression.

Along with honoring excellence in nature photography, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards promotes a message of conservation. Below are the contest's winners, as well as a few of our favorites.

1 of 18
© Ken Jensen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
A monkey straddling a wire.
Ouch

Overall Winner
Ken Jensen, golden silk monkey, Yunnan, China.

2 of 18
© Arthur Trevino / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Ninja Prairie Dog! Alex Walker's Serian Creatures on the Land Award Arthur Trevino, Prairie Dog and Bald Eagle.
Ninja Prairie Dog!

Alex Walker's Serian Creatures on the Land Award
Arthur Trevino, Prairie Dog and Bald Eagle.

3 of 18
© John Speirs / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
I guess summer's over Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award Affinity Photo People's Choice Award John Speirs, Pigeon.
I guess summer's over

Spectrum Photo Creatures in the Air Award
Affinity Photo People's Choice Award

John Speirs, Pigeon.

4 of 18
© Chee Kee Teo / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
 Creatures Under the Sea Award Chee Kee Teo, Smooth-coated Otter.
Time for school

Creatures Under the Sea Award
Chee Kee Teo, Smooth-coated Otter.

5 of 18
© Vicki Jauron / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
The Joy of a Mud Bath Amazing Internet Portfolio Award Vicki Jauron, Elephant, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe.
The Joy of a Mud Bath

Amazing Internet Portfolio Award
Vicki Jauron, Elephant, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe.

6 of 18
© Andy Parkinson / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Let's dance Highly Commended Winner Andy Parkinson, Kamchatka Bear Cubs, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
Let's dance

Highly Commended Winner
Andy Parkinson, Kamchatka Bear Cubs, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
 

7 of 18
© Chu han lin / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
See who jumps high Highly Commended Winner Chu han lin, Mudskipper, Taiwan.
See who jumps high

Highly Commended Winner
Chu han lin, Mudskipper, Taiwan.

8 of 18
© David Eppley / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Majestic and Graceful Bald Eagle Highly Commended Winner David Eppley, Bald Eagle.
Majestic and Graceful Bald Eagle

Highly Commended Winner
David Eppley, Bald Eagle.

9 of 18
© Jakub Hodan / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Treehugger Highly Commended Winner Jakub Hodan, Proboscis Monkey.
Treehugger

Highly Commended Winner
Jakub Hodan, Proboscis Monkey.
 

10 of 18
© Lea Scaddan / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Missed Highly Commended Winner Lea Scaddan, Western Grey Kangaroos.
Missed

Highly Commended Winner
Lea Scaddan, Western Grey Kangaroos.

11 of 18
© Nicolas de VAULX / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
How do you get that damn window open? Highly Commended Winner Nicolas de VAULX, Raccoon.
How do you get that damn window open?

Highly Commended Winner
Nicolas de VAULX, Raccoon.

12 of 18
© Roland Kranitz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
I got you Highly Commended Winner Roland Kranitz, Gophers.
I got you

Highly Commended Winner
Roland Kranitz, Gophers.

13 of 18
© Andrew Mayes / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Monday morning mood Finalist Andrew Mayes, Pied Starling, Rietvlei, South Africa.
Monday morning mood

Finalist
Andrew Mayes, Pied Starling, Rietvlei, South Africa.

14 of 18
© Clemence Guinard / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
The baboon who feels like a tenor  Finalist Clemence Guinard, Hamadryas Baboon, Saudi Arabia.
The baboon who feels like a tenor 

Finalist
Clemence Guinard, Hamadryas Baboon, Saudi Arabia.
 

15 of 18
© Sarosh Lodhi / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Dancing away to glory Finalist Sarosh Lodhi, Langurs, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, India.
Dancing away to glory

Finalist
Sarosh Lodhi, Langurs, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, India.

16 of 18
© Manoj Shah / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2020
Smoked deer for dinner Finalist Siddhant Agrawal, Tiger, Jim Corbett National Park, India.
Smoked deer for dinner

Finalist
Siddhant Agrawal, Tiger, Jim Corbett National Park, India.

17 of 18
© Anita Ross / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Shush! I'm so hungover it hurts Finalist Anita Ross, Burrowing Owl, San Bernardino County, California, USA.
Shush! I'm so hungover it hurts

Finalist
Anita Ross, Burrowing Owl, San Bernardino County, California, USA.
 

18 of 18
© Edwin Smits / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021
Fluff Finalist  Edwin Smits, Konik Horse, Groenlanden, Ooij, Netherlands.
Fluff

Finalist 
Edwin Smits, Konik Horse, Groenlanden, Ooij, Netherlands.

About the Author

Anna Claire Mauney

Anna Claire Mauney is the former managing editor for Art & Object. A writer and artist living in North Carolina, she is interested in illustration, the 18th-century, and viceregal South America. She is also the co-host of An Obsessive Nature, a podcast about writing and pop culture.