Would you like to see an “Elvis” caiman or a handstanding leopard? Now you can, as nature’s funniest photos have been revealed

We all need a bit of light relief from how serious day to day life can get, and the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards can deliver exactly that. The shortlist for the awards is officially in, and between an “Elvis-impersonating” caiman, a handstanding leopard, and an orangutan with zero filter, these 40 finalists are guaranteed to make your day.

Record entries for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

Finalists for the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have been announced, and this year more than 10,000 photographers from 112 countries have entered, the most ever in the competition’s history. The shortlist features 40 individual finalists, three under-16 entries, four portfolios and nine videos.

The competition is open to everyone and is completely free to enter, it doesn’t matter if you are a professional, amateur or novice, you can have a go.

Meet the stars of the photographs

There are so many photographs to be enjoyed, with everything from Paolo Torre’s caiman sporting a quiff of vegetation that looks remarkably like Elvis Presley’s hair, and Homi Sahana’s leopard appearing to be performing a perfect handstand.

Kevin Lohman’s “Are You Kidding Me?” freezes a squirrel mid-leap towards a young owl. Shailza Singhal used forced perspective to turn an elephant into a towering giant.

A serious reason behind the fun photos

It began in 2015, founded by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam with serious intent sitting behind the silliness. Co-founder Tom Sullam says the awards started as a small effort to raise awareness of wildlife conservation and has now grown into something much bigger. Humour, he believes, helps people feel empathy for animals, and that feeling can change behaviour for the better.

When to see the winners and how to vote

Winners will be announced at an awards evening in London on December 8. Anyone heading back to the UK for the festive season can see the finalists at a free exhibition at Gallery@Oxo on London’s South Bank, running from December 9 to 13.

So, grab a coffee and take a few minutes out of your day for a bit of light hearted fun. All the entries can we viewed and voted for on the competition Facebook page or the official website here, and who knows, you could be in with a chance of winning a cash prize just for choosing your favourite.