See the Winners of 2024 Comedy Wildlife Awards: ‘Stuck Squirrel,’ ‘Smooching Owls,’ ‘Awkward Smiley Frog’ and More

The winners of the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards photography competition represent the funniest animal photos of the year.

The free global competition, which was founded in 2015, is “is open to all wildlife photography novices, amateurs and professionals and celebrates the hilarity of our natural world,” organizers said on the contest’s website.

The contest receives thousands of submissions from around the world every year, and here is a selection of 2024’s winners.

Overall Winner: “Stuck Squirrel”

This photo was taken by Milko Marchetti in Bagnacavallo, Italy.

“Generally, in Italy, especially in the area where I live, in the Po Delta Regional Park, it is very difficult to see and photograph squirrels (they are very rare) but here in the park they are quite confident,” Marchetti wrote on the Comedy Wildlife Awards winners’ page.

He noted that he caught the squirrel mid-motion, creating the illusion that it was stuck. Marchetti also revealed that whenever he shares this photo in presentations, the “the audience always explodes in energetic laughter,” adding, “I knew I had to enter it into the competition.”

Related: Crafty Fox Lures Animal Lover in with Cuteness, Then Steals Their Wallet

People's Choice: “Shake Ruffle Rattle and Roll”

This photo was taken bu Tapani Linnanmäki of Finland.

“In the picture, a white-tailed eagle is ruffling its feathers,” Linnanmäki shared. “The picture was taken with the Nikon Z9's autocapture feature. The camera is placed on top of the sea ice on top of a bag of nuts at the level of the ice. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this picture. There were more than ten funny poses and expressions in the photo series.”

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Junior (Under 16): “Smooching Owls”

This photo was taken Indian teenager Sarthak Ranganadhan.

Sarthak wrote, “Our parents always find a way to embarrass us, I guess that's also true in the case of spotted owlets. It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin [and] shut eyes.”

Related: Zookeepers Share Their Favorite 'Behind the Scenes' Animal Photos: 'They Are All Fantastic'

Young Photographer (Under 25): “Awkward Smiley Frog”

Kingston Tam of Hong Kong wrote, “My goal for my images is to bring attention to our scaly or moist friends, showing that not only fluffy animals can be cute and beautiful."

“Ultimately, I wish my work could bring more conservation awareness to these amazing reptiles and amphibians, and that’s been my motivation to keep doing what I’m doing,” he added.

Fish and Other Aquatic Species Award: “Unexpected Role Swap”

Polish photographer Przemyslaw Jakubczyk took this photo, joking, “Every annoyed and overtired fish needs to de-stress by hunting for a bald eagle.”

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Spectrum Photo Birds Award: “Whiskered Tern Crash on Landing”

This photo from Damyan Petkov of Bulgaria shows a whiskered tern hitting its head on a rock while attempting to land.

Photographers can find details about the Wildlife Comedy Awards here.

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