Funny animal pictures from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

From gossiping lions to an anarchist kingfisher, these fabulously funny animal pictures are sure to make you giggle.

by Ben Gray 14th August 2020

Support vital wildlife conservation work and enjoy these photos in a physical format by picking up volume 3 of the CWPA book and the 2022 CWPA calendar.

Attitude!!This fan-throated lizard, captured in India, certainly has plenty of that.

Photo: Aditya Kshirsagar / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Laughing snakeWhy did the snake cross the road? To get to the other ssssssssside.

OK...so that wasn’t that funny, but something has this vine snake from India amused.

Photo: Aditya Kshirsagar / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Monday Morning MoodA grumpy pied starling waking up on a Monday morning in Rietvlei, South Africa.

Photo: Andrew Mayes / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Leaning postA brown bear cub taking advantage of a well placed ‘leaning post’ in Kamchatka Peninsula, Far East Russia.

Photo: Andy Parkinson / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Let's danceMore Russian brown bears—this time, showing their moves.

Photo: Andy Parkinson / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Shhhh! I'm so hungover it hurts.A burrowing (or should I say ‘hungover’) owl after a late night in San Bernardino county, California.

Photo: Anita Ross / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Ninja Prairie Dog!Forget Kung Fu Panda...this bald eagle may have got more than it bargained for when it tried to predate on this prarie dog. “Stay back, I know kung fu!”

Photo: Arthur Trevino / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Don't worry. Be happy!A bluetiful (yep, I’ve just made up a word) and cheerful dragonfly captured in Hemer, Germany

Photo: Axel Bocker / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Foot JamEither this raccoon (from Wisconsin, USA) is trying an advanced tree climbing technique, or it’s stuck. What do you think?

Photo: Brook Burling / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Directing penguinNothing to see here. Just your classic gentoo penguin giving directions to a passerby in the Falkland Islands.

Photo: Carol Taylor / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

PeekabooA cute gosling peaking out from behind some park railings in London.

Photo: Charlie page / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Time for schoolThis smooth coated otter cub does not look too happy about the first day of school in Singapore. I know the feeling mate.

Photo: Chee Kee Teo / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

The Photo-Bombing WaveA not-so-camera-shy polar bear from the North Slope of Alaska. “Don’t forget about me dudes!”

Photo: Cheryl Strahl / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

See who jumps highA mudskipper falling with style in Taiwan. “Look...I can fly...oh wait, maybe not.”

Photo: Chu han lin / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

The Baboon who feels like a tenorThis hamadryas baboon clearly wants to join the national orchestra of Saudi Arabia. “Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti...”

Photo: Clemence Guinard / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Majestic and Graceful Bald EagleBehold, the mejestic American bald eagle.

Photo: David Eppley / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Shaking Off 20202020 was tough on all of us. Even this brown pelican from Southern Louisiana, USA.

Photo: Dawn Wilson / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Yes, I did itI wonder why this green tree frog in Tangerang has such a cheeky grin?

Photo: Dikky Oesin / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Monkey riding a giraffe“Giddy up Gerald, we’re gonna be late.” This monkey and giraffe make a great pair in Murchison Falls NP, Uganda.

Photo: Dirk-Jan Steehouwer / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

FluffI bet this konik/wild horse from Groenlanden, Ooij is soft. “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna...”

Photo: Edwin Smits / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

The Green StylistThis Indian chameleon from Western Ghats sure knows how to strike a pose.

Photo: Gurumoorthy K / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

TreehuggerJust a proboscis monkey kissing a tree in Borneo. Something you see everyday right?!

Photo: Jakub Hodan / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Chinese whispersA gaze of raccoons passing along a secret in Kassel, Germany.

Photo: Jan Piecha / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

I guess Summer's overAh, the pigeon’s archnemesis...a leaf! Autumn has arrived in Oban Argyll, UK.

Photo: John Speirs / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

We’re Too Sexy For This BeachThe gentoo penguins of East Falkland, Falkland Islands sure do have swagger. I admire their confidence.

Photo: Joshua Galicki / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Ouch!A golden silk monkey in a spot of bother in Yunnan, China. Ouch for sure...I felt that one.

Photo: Ken Jensen / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Quarantine LifeWe can all relate to this raccoon family couped up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Photo: Kevin Biskaborn / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Just Checking“Few, they’re still there.” This vervet monkey looks releaved in South Luangwa national Park, Zambia, Africa.

Photo: Larry Petterborg / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

MissedA ‘swing and a miss’ for this Kangaroo in Perth, Western Australia.

Photo: Lea Scaddan / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021

Operatic warm upsAnother animal with their heart set on a musical career. This time down under in Australia.

Photo: Lea Scaddan / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021