Comedy Wildlife Awards winners revealed
You can now see them all at a free exhibition in London
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners for 2025 have just been announced – and this year’s top gong went to a perfectly timed capture of a gorilla dancing through a forest clearing that resembles a high five.
Held annually since 2015, the awards aim to fuse “exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour” to help promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats around the globe.
This year’s competition once again supports the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that works with conservation pioneers across the Global South.
With nearly 10,000 entries from 108 countries, competition was fierce, and just 44 entries and ten videos made the shortlist, with eight of these taking home awards.
Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe senior general manager of marketing, said, “We are so thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity showcased in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. All of our category winners use joy, skills and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark’s winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife.
“At Nikon, we are incredibly proud to support these visual storytellers and provide them with the tools to share their unique perspectives, inspiring audiences everywhere to connect with and care for our planet’s remarkable wildlife.”
A free exhibition featuring all the finalists is now on display at the Gallery@Oxo in London until 14 December.
More information: comedywildlifephoto.com
Overall and mammals category winner: High Five by Mark Meth-Cohn, UK. Location: Rwanda (Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bird category winner: Headlock by Warren Price, UK. Location: Hornøya, Norway (Warren Price / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Fish & other aquatic mammals category winner: Smiley by Jenny Stock, UK. Location: Philippines (Jenny Stock / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Nikon Junior (16 years and under) and Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Category winner: Baptism of the Unwilling Convert by Grayson Bell, USA. Location: Biddeford, Maine, USA (Grayson Bell / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Nikon Young Photographer (25 years and under) winner: Hit the Dance Floor! by Paula Rustemeier, Germany. Location: Netherlands (Paula Rustemeier / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
It is Tough Being a Duck by John Speirs, UK. Location: Argyll, Scotland (John Speirs / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Now Which Direction is my Nest? by Alison Tuck, UK. Location: Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, UK (Alison Tuck / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Go Away by Annette Kirby, Australia. Location: Hokkaido, Japan (Annette Kirby / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bad Hair Day! by Christy Grinton, Canada. Location: Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Christy Grinton / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Landing Gears Down by Erkko Badermann, Finland. Location: Finland (Erkko Badermann / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bad Mouthing by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod, Sri Lanka. Location: Yala National Park, Sri Lanka (Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Battle Hug by Jessica Emmett, Singapore. Location: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Singapore (Jessica Emmett / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Outdoor Smoking Zone by Lars Beygang, Germany. Location: Neumarkt, Bavaria, Germany (Lars Beygang / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Fonzies Advertising by Liliana Luca, Italy. Location: Nosy Komba, Madagascar (Liliana Luca / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
The Choir by Meline Ellwanger, USA. Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya (Meline Ellwanger / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Paint Me Like One of Your Forest Girls by Michael Stavrakakis, Australia. Location: Borneo, Indonesia (Michael Stavrakakis / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Smile, You’re Being Photographed by Valtteri Mulkahainen, Finland. Location: Martinselkonen Village, Suomussalmi District, Finland (Valtteri Mulkahainen / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Comedy Wildlife Awards winners revealed
You can now see them all at a free exhibition in London
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards winners for 2025 have just been announced – and this year’s top gong went to a perfectly timed capture of a gorilla dancing through a forest clearing that resembles a high five.
Held annually since 2015, the awards aim to fuse “exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour” to help promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats around the globe.
This year’s competition once again supports the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that works with conservation pioneers across the Global South.
With nearly 10,000 entries from 108 countries, competition was fierce, and just 44 entries and ten videos made the shortlist, with eight of these taking home awards.
Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe senior general manager of marketing, said, “We are so thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity showcased in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. All of our category winners use joy, skills and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark’s winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife.
“At Nikon, we are incredibly proud to support these visual storytellers and provide them with the tools to share their unique perspectives, inspiring audiences everywhere to connect with and care for our planet’s remarkable wildlife.”
A free exhibition featuring all the finalists is now on display at the Gallery@Oxo in London until 14 December.
More information: comedywildlifephoto.com
Overall and mammals category winner: High Five by Mark Meth-Cohn, UK. Location: Rwanda (Mark Meth-Cohn / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bird category winner: Headlock by Warren Price, UK. Location: Hornøya, Norway (Warren Price / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Fish & other aquatic mammals category winner: Smiley by Jenny Stock, UK. Location: Philippines (Jenny Stock / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Nikon Junior (16 years and under) and Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Category winner: Baptism of the Unwilling Convert by Grayson Bell, USA. Location: Biddeford, Maine, USA (Grayson Bell / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Nikon Young Photographer (25 years and under) winner: Hit the Dance Floor! by Paula Rustemeier, Germany. Location: Netherlands (Paula Rustemeier / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
It is Tough Being a Duck by John Speirs, UK. Location: Argyll, Scotland (John Speirs / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Now Which Direction is my Nest? by Alison Tuck, UK. Location: Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, UK (Alison Tuck / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Go Away by Annette Kirby, Australia. Location: Hokkaido, Japan (Annette Kirby / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bad Hair Day! by Christy Grinton, Canada. Location: Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Christy Grinton / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Landing Gears Down by Erkko Badermann, Finland. Location: Finland (Erkko Badermann / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Bad Mouthing by Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod, Sri Lanka. Location: Yala National Park, Sri Lanka (Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prasantha Vinod / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Battle Hug by Jessica Emmett, Singapore. Location: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Singapore (Jessica Emmett / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Outdoor Smoking Zone by Lars Beygang, Germany. Location: Neumarkt, Bavaria, Germany (Lars Beygang / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Fonzies Advertising by Liliana Luca, Italy. Location: Nosy Komba, Madagascar (Liliana Luca / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
The Choir by Meline Ellwanger, USA. Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya (Meline Ellwanger / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Paint Me Like One of Your Forest Girls by Michael Stavrakakis, Australia. Location: Borneo, Indonesia (Michael Stavrakakis / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
Smile, You’re Being Photographed by Valtteri Mulkahainen, Finland. Location: Martinselkonen Village, Suomussalmi District, Finland (Valtteri Mulkahainen / Nikon Comedy Wildlife)
