It's off to school for you: The Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists 2021

Take a look through some hilarious images courtesy of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021.

James Cutmore

Published: September 7, 2021 at 12:42 pm

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 has announced the finalists for this year's awards, and has opened the voting for you to pick your favourites.

Now in its seventh year, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards showcases the best unintentionally funny animal imagesfrom around the world, from a laughing vine snake from India, to a bird that really doesn't want its picture to be taken.

Voting is also open for members of the public to choose the animal snap that made them laugh the loudest in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award. The public can cast their vote at comedywildlifephoto.comuntil 10 October 2021.

We bring you some of our favourites from the final selection, which are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Laughing Snake

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Aditya Kshirsagar PUNE India Title: Laughing Snake Description: Vine snakes are very commonly seen snakes in western ghats of India. When approached they show aggression by opening their mouth wide open. Nothing to scare of this beautiful harmless Vine snake.I was happy to find it and smiling and It looks like he was smiling back at me. Animal: Vine snake Location of shot: India — Vine snakes are very commonly seen snakes in Western Ghats of India, where this image was taken. When approached they show aggression by opening their mouth wide open, but in this case seems to be more happy than intimidating.Photographed by Aditya Kshirsagar/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Peekaboo!

I was photographing a group of goslings for a while when one broke away from the pack. It hid behind the leg of a bench for a few seconds before poking its little head out to say hello. Canada Goose, Lee Valley Park — This Canada Goose gosling hid behind the leg of a bench in Lee Valley Park, London, UK, for a few seconds before poking its little head out to say hello. Photographed by Charlie Page/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Time For School

Chee-Kee-Teo_Time-for-school_00000979 copy — A smooth-coated otter bites its baby otter to bring it back to and fro during a swimming lesson inSingapore. Photographed by Chee Kee Teo/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Majestic and graceful Bald Eagle

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 David Eppley PT CHARLOTTE United States Title: Majestic and Graceful Bald Eagle Description: Bald Eagles will use the same nest for years, even decades, adding new material to it at the beginning and throughout the nesting season. Normally, they are highly skilled at snapping branches off of trees while in flight. Possibly tired from working nonstop all morning on a new nest, this particular Bald Eagle wasn't showing its best form. Yes, sometimes they miss. Although this looks painful, and it might very well be, the eagle recovers with just a few sweeping wing strokes, and choses to rest a bit before making another lumber run. Animal: Bald Eagle Location of shot: South West Florida, USA — Bald Eagles will use the same nest for years, even decades, adding new material to it at the beginning of and throughout the nesting season. Normally, they are highly skilled at snapping branches off of trees while in flight. Possibly tired from working nonstop all morning on a new nest, this particular Bald Eagle, snapped atSouth West Florida, USA, wasn't showing its best form.Photographed by David Eppley/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Don't worry, be happy

Photographed by Axel Bocker/Comedywildlifephoto.com — A Dragonfly pictured on a flower in Hemer, Germany, looks into the camera and appears to laugh. Photographed by Axel Bocker/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Life In Lockdown

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Kevin Biskaborn Barrie Canada Phone: Email: Title: Quarantine Life Description: Isolated inside with your family eager to get out and explore the world? These eastern raccoon kits are too. Just when you think there's no more room in the tree hollow, mother raccoon appears and displays just how compact the space is. The babies clambered all over their mom and each another, struggling to take a look at the exact same time. This photo was taken in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. After exploring a particular area with numerous tree hallows, I identified it as a hot spot for raccoon families. Since raccoons will move from den to den, often not spending more than one night at a time in a particular den, locating an area with numerous options is key to locating the animals. I stumbled across this family and immediately worked on leveling the camera with the hole to prevent an upward angle. When the camera and tripod were ready, the baby raccoons were extremely curious (and cooperative), sticking their heads out for a closer look! Animal: Raccoon / Procyon lotor Location of shot: Southwestern Ontario, Canada — Some curious eastern raccoon kits and their mother are taking a look outside at the world all at the same time, and the tree seems to be getting a touch cramped. This photo was taken in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, by Kevin Biskaborn/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Boo!

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Arthur Trevino Longmont United States Phone: Email: Title: Bald Eagle Gets A Surprise! Description: When this Bald Eagle missed on its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs Goliath story! Animal: Bald Eagle Location of shot: Hygiene, CO. — When this Bald Eagle missed on its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs Goliath story witnessed atHygiene, Colorado, USA. Photographed by Arthur Trevinov/Comedywildlifephoto.com

That Monday morning feeling

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Andrew Mayes Randburg South Africa Phone: Email: Title: Monday Morning Mood Description: I took this shot while photographing a group of Pied starlings perched in a tree at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa. It perfectly sums up my mood on most Monday mornings :) Animal: Pied Starling Location of shot: Rietvlei Nature Reserve — The photographer took this shot while photographing a group of Pied starlings perched in a tree at the Rietvlei Nature Reserve in South Africa. Photographed by Andrew Mayes/Comedywildlifephoto.com

You missed!

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Lea Scaddan Perth Australia Phone: Email: Title: Missed Description: Two Western Grey Kangaroos were fighting and one missed kicking him in the stomach. Animal: Western Grey Kangaroo Location of shot: Perth, Western Australia — Two Western Grey Kangaroos fighting near Perth, Western Australia, one missed kicking the other male in the stomach. Photographed by Lea Scaddan/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Pucker up

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Philipp Stahr Mannheim Germany Phone: Email: Title: Sweet lips are for kissing! Description: This picture was taken at CuraÃ§ao, Dutch Caribbean. Usually box fishes are difficult to take pictures of, since they do not have a problem of a diver coming close, but if you show interest, they always turn the back and not the face to you. Thatâ€™s why I tried to swim 0.5m above the fish and showing no interest at all to him. The same time I had my camera not in front of me, but below at my chest pointing to the bottom. When the right moment had come, I turned the camera 90 degrees to the front and just point and shoot, hoping to have the fish in focus. Never expected to have its beautiful lips that close! Animal: Boxfish Location of shot: CuraÃ§ao, Dutch Caribbean — This boxfish seems to be getting pretty amorous towards the cameraman in this picture, taken at Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean. Photographed byPhilipp Stahr/Comedywildlifephoto.com

For more great images, take a look at our other galleries:

Shaking Off

Brown_pelican_Eden_2020_1 — This brown pelican shakes off the rain in southern Louisiana in early 2021, still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a group of pelicans woke up, they shook the water off their bodies before heading out to fish. This particular one almost seemed to be shrugging his shoulders, as if to say, "I have no idea what 2021 will be like." Photographed by Dawn Wilson/Comedywildlifephoto.com

The green stylist

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Gurumoorthy Gurumoorthy Chennai India Title: The Comedy wildlife Description: Indian chameleon this image capture in Western Ghats Tamilnadu (Indian) used camera Nikon D5300 70-300mm lens Animal: Indian chameleon Location of shot: Western Ghats — The Indian chameleon in this image, captured in Western Ghats, India, bears an uncanny resemblance to Victor Meldrew. Photographed by Gurumoorthy Gurumoorthy/Comedywildlifephoto.com

I guess summer's over

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 john speirs oban United Kingdom Title: i guess summers over Description: i was taking pics of pigeons in flight when this leaf landed on birds face Animal: pigeon Location of shot: oban argyll — A poor pigeon gets hit in the face by a leaf falling from a nearby tree, in Oban, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom. Photographed by John Spears/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Ouch!

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Ken Jensen Burnley United Kingdom Title: Ouch! Description: A golden silk monkey in Yunnan China - this is actually a show of aggression however in the position that the monkey is in it looks quite painful! Animal: Golden Silk Monkey Location of shot: Yunnan China — This is actually a show of aggression by this golden silk monkey in Yunnan, China. However, from the sitting position they have adopted it looks quite painful. Photographed by Ken Jensen/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Cotten-eyed Joe

Ever seen a grizzly bear square dance? Just need a jug, some spoons and a banjo. Gets ‘em every time. — Ever seen a grizzly bear square dance? You have now. This particular grizzly really seems to be getting into the swing of things. Photographed in Alaska, USA, by Rick Elieson/Comedywildlifephoto.com

I got you!

Roland Kranitz_I-got-you_00003414 — These Spermophile ground-squirrels seem to be having a lot of fun as they practice for an upcoming dance routine, possibly. Photographed by Roland Kranitz/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Did I say you could take my picture?

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Patrick Dirlam Dewey United States Title: Did I say you could take my picture? Description: I followed this Ruby-Crowned Kinglet for about 15 minutes as it hopped from one branch to another in fast succession. I think it knew I was following it because, all of a sudden, it just stopped and stared at me for all of about 3 seconds! Animal: Ruby-crowned Kinglet Location of shot: Atascadero, California — This Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, pictured at Atascadero, California, USA, seems to take exception to be photographed, and is evidently not happy. Photographed by Patrick Dirlam/Comedywildlifephoto.com

Picture Editor, BBC Science Focus

James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 Chee Kee Teo Singapore Singapore Title: Time for school Description: A smooth-coated otter "bit" its baby otter to bring it back to and fro for swimming lesson Animal: Smooth-coated otter Location of shot: Singapore

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