Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Finalists Revealed
Nikon is delighted to reveal the highly anticipated shortlist for the 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. This year’s selection consists of 40 standalone images, 3 portfolio entries and 10 video entries – a captivating mix of inspiring and delightfully funny images, reminding us of the world’s most beguiling wildlife.
Among the colourful contenders for funniest wildlife image of 2025 is a dancing gorilla, a choir of lions and a quick-thinking frog on lookout duty! This year, there are also 10 amazing videos of wildlife’s most comical moments caught on camera, with highlights including a surfing heron and an orangutan getting up to mischief. The expert judges will be busy over the coming weeks deciding their favourite comedy critters.
The world’s most entertaining wildlife photography competition received a record number of entries this year. With nearly 10,000 submissions from 108 countries received, they all compete to win top prizes, including Nikon’s Z6III full-frame mirrorless camera, Z50II mirrorless camera and Nikon’s brand-new compact cinema camera, the ZR. The winner will also secure a once in a lifetime, one-week safari trip courtesy of Alex Walker’s Serian in the Masai Mara, as well as some of the best-selling photography rucksacks in the business from ThinkTANK.
Founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, the awards combine exceptional wildlife photography with the power of humour to spotlight conservation. Every image is authentic, with no AI or digital manipulation allowed.
Comedy Wildlife is teaming up again with sustainable conservation organisation, the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), which over the past thirty years has invested £24 million in 220 conservation leaders in 80 countries. An inspiring effort which the awards are thrilled to champion.
Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe Senior General Manager Marketing says: “The Nikon Comedy Wildlife finalists are in, and we’re excited to share with you the brilliant images showcasing unique talent of photographers from every corner of the globe. These images combine wit and wonder to celebrate nature’s character, while emphasising the urgency of conservation. At Nikon, we’re proud to support a competition that sparks joy while reminding us why our wild world is worth protecting.”
Tom Sullam, Comedy Wildlife Competition Co-founder says: “We had an awesome year last year and are absolutely delighted to be able to partner with the Nikon team again for 2025. Their ongoing support has supercharged the competition, reaching more people in more countries than ever before, helping us raise awareness of animal and habitat conservation and crucially, highlight the fundamental importance of having wildlife on our planet and in our lives. These inspiring and funny photos and videos do just that. It’s a privilege to be part of this exciting journey, making us all laugh and we can’t wait to announce the winners in December.”
The Overall Winner, Category and Highly Commended Winners will be announced on Tuesday 9th December at a special awards evening in London. This will be followed by a one-week, free exhibition from 10th-16th December, where Nikon will showcase the 2025 Award Finalists at the Gallery@Oxo.
Competition categories include:
• Alex Walker’s Serian Mammals Category
• Spectrum Photo Birds Category
• ThinkTANK Reptiles and Amphibians Category
• Fish and Other Aquatic Species
• Insects Category
• Nikon Young Photographer (up to 25yrs.)
• Nikon Junior Category (up to 16 yrs.)
• Amazing Internet Portfolio Category
• Nikon Video Category
This year’s shortlist is being reviewed by Nikon Creators Cameron Whitnall, Hannah Stitfall and Roxy Hemadani. They’ll be joined by TV presenter Kate Humble, actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, renowned wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas and Nikon Ambassador Daisy Gilardini, as well as wildlife expert and co-founder of the Born Free Foundation, Will Travers OBE, and passionate conservationist, Bella Lack.
