12 Funny Animal Photos Never Seen Before
Although it's believed that a sense of humor is a distinctly human emotion, these newly released funny animal photos from Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards may convince you to question that assumption.
In fact, research has found that some animal species may indeed use wit to strengthen their bonds in the same way that many have the capacity for love, fear, sorrow, guilt, anger, shame, disgust and empathy – and that primates smile and some rats can giggle.
And while science has found that various animals can be nutty and mischievous -- and that their laughter might be more common than was earlier believed -- there is also the fact that humans tend to "anthropomorphize" the behavior of animals.
Here, in this selection of previously unseen images from last year's Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, are some examples of both animals' humor and our anthropomorphizing of their behavior.
The images range from a cheetah's laugh to a deer pulling a surprised face, to birds stumbling into hilarious situations or simply living their 'ordinary' lives until a human photographer in the right place at the right moment from the right angle transforms them into a humorous scene.
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
Showing a lighter side of wild animal photography, this competition with sustainability at the forefront of its aims runs in partnership with Nikon and supports the nonporfit Whitley Fund for Nature dedicated to empowering conservation leaders across the Global South.
'Comedy Wildlife's photographs transcend cultures and ages to bring a smile to everyone's face and with a mission to engage wildlife lovers everywhere to be part of a global conversation about conservation,' say the organizers.
The 2025 competition, free to enter and now open, will close on June 30. The shortlist of candidates will be revealed in October and the winners announced in November or December.
The contest categories include: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Insects, Fish and Other Aquatic Species, Nikon Young Photographer (25 Years and Under), Nikon Junior Photographer (16 Years and Under), Portfolio, Video and Photo People's Choice Award.
Great Egret Fun, Dallas, Texas
'I went to this rookery, right in the heart of the medical district in downtown Dallas, Texas, several times this spring where hundreds of these Great Egrets come to breed,' Mary Hulshouser explains.
"The babies are hilarious to watch from the time they are newly hatched until they are ready to fledge. They are constantly crying for food and sometimes thinking they can get nourishment from each other. You can't help but get some funny pictures of them with their crazy hair and expressions! "
Laughing Cheetah, Masai Mara, Kenya
With its relaxed pose, this cheetah in Masai Mara, Kenya, looks like it's having the time of its life.
Peek-A-Boo, Volcanoes Mountain, Rwanda
A baby golden monkey peers from behind a tree while chewing on a piece of bamboo, contemplating the day ahead.
Forgot your birthday AGAIN! Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
"We had been hanging out with this bear (and his buddy) for several hours while they slept and played on the beach in coastal Alaska," Charles Janson says. 'After waking from a nap, this one started to clean himself, using his paw to wipe sand from his face. In this pose he looks embarrassed.'
Four-VVinged Goose, Hamburg, Germany
A four-winged goose (or two geese?) skim over a lake in Hamburg, Germany.
One-Eyed Peeper, Leicester, UK
'I had been photographing fallow deer when this one, which had been lying to the left of the tree, got up and peeped from behind the tree for just a couple of seconds," says Helen Cherry. 'It looks as though it only has one eyeball but it's just that the eye on the left caught the light.'
Conciliation, Red Billed Starling, Dahua Xingzhi Park , China
Captured in mid-flight, this moment of playful fighting between Red Billed Starling birds seems to be arbitrated by a commen friend.
Bear-Hug , Polar Bears Svalbard, Norway
Mum and cub bear come together for a proper bear hug. 'The two had just finished attempting to embark our ship (unsuccessfully), and tried hunting a pod of beluga whales (and failed)," Michael Stavrakakis explains. 'It's nice to see them still hugging it out anyway."
Juggling pelican, Greece, Lake Kerkini
This Curly Headed pelican is trying to impress his audience with his latest juggling act: How to get the fish even further down the throat of the beak.
Declaration of love, Ground squirrel Vienna
Declaration of love: It was as if this ground squirrel were confessing his love to the flower.
The funny animal photos contest is free and open to photographers of all levels and ages.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California
SAN DIEGO – A brave squirrel was seen coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake in California. Footage captured by San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Manager Sally Brown showed the courageous ground squirrel tossing wood chips and jumping around to fend off a Southern Pacific rattlesnake. Every so often, the rodent would stop and flick its tail to appear imposing during the stand-off with the reptile. According to the refuge, ground squirrels not only protect themselves but also protect their burrows and warn other nearby squirrels of predators. Watch: Arizona Police Officer Leaps Into Water To Save Dog Stuck In Canal "These clever critters have evolved unique anti-snake tactics," read a statement shared by the refuge. "They kick sand, heat up their tails to confuse the snake's heat sensors, and throw debris to drive predators away." Refuge officials said that the encounter likely started after the rattlesnake took a young squirrel for dinner. According to the National Park Service, rattlesnakes prey on a wide range of animals, including mice, small birds, gophers and other small mammals they may article source: Watch: Courageous squirrel goes toe-to-toe with rattlesnake in California Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wildlife rescue hopes blind, baby moose can find forever home at Toronto Zoo
A wildlife rescue in Ottawa is hoping the province will allow it to transfer a blind baby moose to the Toronto Zoo to live out its days in captivity, or it may be forced to euthanize it. The two-month old moose was found earlier this month on a rural road and brought to Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue, where staff gave it the name Cedar. "He was walking through a field, calling out, probably calling out trying to find his mother and ... she was nowhere to be seen," said Lynne Rowe, director of operations at Holly's Haven. Veterinarians determined Cedar was entirely blind in one eye and has only partial vision in the other, meaning he likely won't be able to safely return to the wild, Rowe said. "For Cedar, if he was released in the wild, he'd be readily predated pretty quickly. He wouldn't survive long," Rowe said. LISTEN | Man who found Cedar the moose shares his story: The rescue is only licensed to rehabilitate animals and care for them until they can be released — not to care for animals in captivity, Rowe said. Province must decide if Cedar can be kept in captivity They also don't have the space. While Cedar is only about 60 kilograms now, a full-grown moose can stand up to six feet tall and weigh as much as 725 kilograms. "I will not be able to keep him when he grows much bigger. It costs a lot to feed him and I want him to have to not feel too confined," Rowe said. So, Rowe reached out to the Toronto Zoo, which currently has an empty moose enclosure, to see if it could provide a home for Cedar to live out his days in captivity. While the zoo says it would be willing to take Cedar in, whether it will be allowed to do so is up to Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources, which must sign off on classifying Cedar as unreleaseable to allow the zoo to keep him in captivity. Otherwise, Rowe said Cedar will have to be euthanized. "The only way the Toronto Zoo can take in an animal that's native to Canada is in a circumstance like this. They cannot take healthy animals out of the wild or newborn animals that are perfectly healthy and can survive in the wild," Rowe said. CBC News reached out to the ministry about Cedar, but was referred to the Holly's Haven Wildlife Rescue and Toronto Zoo. Ideal outcome for Cedar to be releasable: zoo The Toronto Zoo's moose enclosure has been empty since its two moose Lily and Trilly died last year, said the zoo's CEO Dolf DeJong. But it will be up to the province to decide whether the Toronto Zoo would be a suitable home for Cedar. Cedar also needs to be further assessed by veterinarians and animal care professionals to determine if that's the best course of action for him, DeJong said. "The preferred outcome is maybe Cedar would be releasable," DeJong said. "That said, they also have to make sure Cedar can still live a life where with those limited capabilities, [that] he can thrive." DeJong said euthanasia would be the "last choice", but may be necessary if veterinarians determine Cedar won't be able to live comfortably in captivity long-term. So far, Cedar seems to be doing well in captivity, which isn't the case for all animals, Rowe said. "In Cedar's case, he seems pretty calm in his enclosure here, and I feel he would be able to adapt to a larger enclosure at the Toronto Zoo." DeJong said he hopes that's the case. "We potentially could present an amazing forever home for Cedar if that's what's deemed the appropriate next step for him."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Authorities make difficult decision after observing concerning grizzly bear behavior: 'In the interest of human safety'
Authorities make difficult decision after observing concerning grizzly bear behavior: 'In the interest of human safety' As more people settle near wildlife habitats, encounters between humans and animals are becoming harder to avoid — and sometimes, they end in difficult decisions. Last month, Idaho wildlife officials euthanized a grizzly bear after it showed an alarming shift in behavior, repeatedly seeking out human food in a residential neighborhood. According to KTVB, officials said the bear's growing comfort around people and its persistence in finding garbage posed a serious safety risk. What's happening? The bear appeared in the Pinehaven area of Island Park. It was captured on doorbell cameras rummaging through trash, pressing against buildings, and breaking into vehicles to find food. Idaho Fish and Game, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determined the bear had become too accustomed to human-related food and had lost its natural wariness of people. "Due to the bear's consistent seeking of unnatural food and habituation to residential areas, it was captured and euthanized in the interest of human safety," Idaho Fish and Game stated, per KTVB. Why is this incident important? When wild animals associate neighborhoods with food, the risks escalate quickly. Bears that lose their fear of people often return to populated areas, increasing the chance of dangerous encounters. Officials warn that these conflicts don't just put wildlife at risk but also create safety concerns for neighborhoods. Bears repeatedly entering residential areas increase the chances of dangerous encounters and can strain local resources, including law enforcement and wildlife management. While conservation efforts often focus on protecting ecosystems, managing attractants like garbage, pet food, and fruit trees is just as much about protecting people. Preventing these conflicts reduces the need for lethal actions and helps communities coexist more safely with nearby wildlife. What's being done about incidents like this? Wildlife officials stress that prevention starts at home. Residents are urged to store garbage inside locked sheds or garages and only set out the bins on collection day. Bear-resistant containers are also recommended. Other simple steps include removing bird feeders during bear season, keeping pet food indoors, and securing fruit trees and beehives with electric fencing. These actions help prevent future conflicts and reduce the risk of dangerous encounters. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
