Every year, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards bring a little lightness to our busy lives, showcasing the quirky and often hilarious side of wildlife. The 2024 edition has just wrapped up, and the winners are now official. With over 900 submissions from photographers—both amateurs and professionals—across 98 countries, the competition was fierce. But in the end, it’s the animals that stole the show with their unforgettable moments.
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The 2024 Overall Winner: A Squirrel in Distress
Italian photographer Milko Marchetti took home the top prize with his incredible photo of a squirrel stuck inside a tree trunk. “I’ve photographed squirrels in many different situations over the years,” Milko recalls. “But this moment was special—this was when the squirrel was just about to pull its back legs out from the trunk to hide away.” It’s a perfectly timed shot that’s both funny and relatable. Milko, who often shows this photo during seminars, says the audience always bursts into laughter when they see it. It’s no surprise that it earned him a spot as the 2024 winner.
The Public’s Favorite: A Messy Bald Eagle
This year, the public had its say, and Tapani Linnanmäki from Finland won the People’s Choice Award with his comical photo of a bald eagle shaking off water, feathers flying in all directions. Tapani, who had placed his camera on the sea ice, captured the eagle at its messiest. “It was one of those moments where everything lined up just right,” he says. “The water, the ruffled feathers—pure comedy gold!” The eagle’s dramatic expression and the wild feathers made this picture one that was destined to get noticed.
The Insect Category: A Funny Mantis Moment
Spanish photographer Jose Miguel Gallego Molina won in the insect category with his image of a mantis in what can only be described as a very quirky pose. Jose was on a routine photo walk near his hometown when he stumbled upon his subject: “I had just stopped the car when I saw the mantis on the road. People in passing cars must’ve thought I was crazy with my door wide open and camera in hand, lying flat on the ground to capture the perfect shot.” The image, titled “Mantis Flamenca,” is a perfect example of the surprises that nature holds when you least expect it.
Other Category Winners
This year’s awards didn’t stop at just a few standouts. The competition had a wide variety of fascinating and amusing shots, including:
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- Eberhard Ehmke from Germany won in the reptile category with his image, “Frog in a Balloon.”
- Damyan Petkov from Bulgaria captured a whiskered tern crashing on landing, earning him the top spot in the bird category.
- Przemyslaw Jakubczyk of Poland took home the prize in the fish and aquatic animals category with his photo of a creature in an “Unexpected Role Swap.”
- Sarthak Ranganadhan, from India, won the Nikon Junior category for his heartwarming shot of two owlets sharing a kiss, titled “Smooching Owlets.”
- Kingston Tam, a young photographer from Hong Kong, was recognized in the Nikon Young Photographer category for his cheeky image of a frog with an awkward smile.
Portfolio and Video Category Highlights
There were also standout moments in the portfolio and video categories. Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb, a 10-year-old photographer from the UK, won the portfolio category with his adorable series of animals caught in humorous situations, like a weight-lifting roly poly and a rock guitar moment. Meanwhile, Kevin Lohman from the United States shared a hilarious video of a fox with what’s known as the “zoomies,” running around in pure excitement.
Why These Awards Matter
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards aren’t just about laughter—they’re also about raising awareness for wildlife conservation. Since its creation in 2015, the competition has grown exponentially, and its impact continues to reach new audiences. As Milko Marchetti said about his winning photo, “Every time I show this to the public, they laugh, but they also start talking about squirrels and the importance of protecting them.” In this way, the awards achieve their goal: bringing attention to nature and inspiring action.
These images remind us that nature is full of humor, charm, and surprises. They offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of wild creatures, showing us that even the most majestic beings have their quirky moments. So, the next time you’re out in nature, keep your camera ready—you never know when the perfect comedic shot might present itself.