AUDIO
Funny animal photos bring smiles around the world
A bear appears to be exercising, a fish looks surprised, and beavers seem to pose for the camera. These are some of the amusing scenes among the finalists in the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. The competition received more than 10,000 entries from photographers in 112 countries. Instead of showing animals looking powerful or elegant, these photographs capture unexpected moments that seem surprisingly human. A movement or facial expression can make an ordinary wildlife photograph look like a scene from a comedy. However, taking such a picture requires more than good luck. Photographers need patience and careful timing to capture a moment that may last only a second. This year's winners will be announced in December.
The competition combines a love of photography with a message about caring for wildlife. Its organisers hope that humour will encourage people to appreciate animals and take an interest in protecting them. A funny photograph offers an enjoyable starting point for learning about the natural world. It also invites us to look more closely. A bear may appear to be doing exercises, but is that really what is happening? We often understand animal behaviour by comparing it with our own experiences. This can make a picture entertaining, even when we do not know what the animal is actually doing. For anyone interested in photography, the competition offers a simple source of inspiration: pay attention to the world around you. Your next memorable picture might begin with an unexpected moment.
Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
pose / amusing / finalists / entries / elegant / capture / facial expression / patience / timing / wildlife / humour / appreciate / behaviour / inspiration / memorable
Discussion
-
Which animal do you think is the funniest, and why?
-
Why do some animal expressions remind us of people?
-
Have you ever taken a funny photograph? What happened?
-
What makes a photograph memorable?
-
Would you enjoy waiting a long time to photograph a wild animal?
-
Do you prefer taking photographs or enjoying a moment without a camera?
-
How could funny photographs encourage people to care about wildlife?
-
If you could photograph any animal in its natural home, which would you choose?
