The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards were co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam to create a competition that fused exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour in a bid to help promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats that our precious planet relies on. Each year the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation and this year Comedy Wildlife are delighted to be working with the Born Free Foundation
The Overall Winner, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on Tuesday 8thDecember at an Awards Night in London, which will be followed by a glorious exhibition for one week (and one week only)from 9 -13 December showcasing all the 2026 Award Finalists at the Gallery@Oxo, thanks to the support of our awesome competition partners at Nikon
. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists During my expedition to Svalbard Archipelago in the Autumn of 2024, I visited small Moffen Island. There were a couple of groups of Walruses resting on the beach. They were very relaxed lying next to each other, presumably to conserve body heat in the freezing Arctic temperatures. These animals are incredibly social, frequently lounging in large, tightly packed herds.Autumn 2024, Svalbard (Moffen Island). While I was sitting on the beach, minding my own business and enjoying a majestic Arctic sunrise, the local mafia decided to roll up on me. Walruses are basically giant, blubbery cuddle-bugs who pile on top of each other for warmth and gossiping. But out of nowhere, a squad of eight of them swam right up to check me out, using their whiskers to scan me like human security. They spent 10 minutes giving me the ultimate Arctic inspection before swimming off. Managed to capture them popping up all at once—looking like absolute Sea Gangsters about to drop the hardest album of 2024. Unforgettable
A gang of Walruses on Moffen Island pop up for a look | Marek Jackowski
1. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists I am 69 and an amateur photographer and member of Ayr Photographic Society. I am a general photographer but enjoy wildlife photography and was inspired by David Bailey and bought an Olympus OM1 in 1978. However, having four children I did not return to more serious photography until after I retired. This image was taken in Dumfriesshire, Scotland with a Nikon z8 and 100-400 mm lens
Robert Nairn
2. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists - When this water buffalo lifted her head up it looked liked she had a fancy bonnet on so we called her Doris!
Andy Rouse
3. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists - An infant olive baboon appears to demonstrate massive strength by holding an adult above its headAnnounced
Andy Parkinson
4. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards Finalists I watched this bull in South Africa stroll toward a group with absolute confidence, until he got within twenty yards. Suddenly, the trunk went up, the eye went into hiding, and he executed a very slow, very awkward U-turn. We've all been there; he just happens to weigh six thousand kilos.
Cliff Fawcett