This highly-anticipated photo competition has released the comic finalists “into the wild.” Enjoy them — and vote for your favorite.

The finalists for the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have been revealed and all 40 photo entries are funny and engaging.

Individual entries, 4 Portfolio entries and 3 Videos have made it to the final of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2024. The free competition is open to all wildlife photography novices, amateurs and professionals and celebrates the hilarity of our natural world.

From bears hugging it out to a mafia boss squirrel, see hilarious animal photos shortlisted for the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

From flying squirrels and a fish chasing an eagle to a cheetah playing hide and seek, here are some of the world’s most humorous and captivating wildlife images.

The photography contest benefits the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK-based charity that awards grants to environmental and wildlife conservation leaders. Take a look at the funniest wildlife photos of the year.

Entries to the competition feature a range of animals behaving in surprising ways. From a racoon whispering a very important secret to its mum, to three polar bears enjoying a judo bout, the most hilarious wildlife pictures of the year have been revealed.