Australian Annette Kirby captured a photograph of a bald eagle wide-eyed and startled in Hokkaido, Japan. In fact, the eagle was hiding a fish it had just caught when it noticed a colleague approaching to steal it. Depending on the angle of view, the competition for survival over the prey can appear as a cute moment of surprise, where friends discover secrets.
The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards announced on Feb. 2 (local time) that Kirby's photo "Go away" is among the 10 most outstanding entries received so far in this year's competition. The deadline for photo submissions is June 30, while the final nominees will be announced in October and the winners in December.
◇Hosted to raise awareness for wildlife protection
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was established in 2015 by British photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam. This year marks the 11th edition. Unlike other wildlife photography contests, it awards photos that capture the amusing aspects of wildlife, such as a startled bald eagle. The founders stated that the competition was started to focus on the bright side of wildlife and to raise awareness of endangered species through humor.
The competition annually donates a portion of its revenue to the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a wildlife conservation foundation in the UK. Over the past 30 years, the WFN has supported more than 220 conservationists in 80 countries, donating £23 million (approximately 429 billion won).
With less than a month left until the submission deadline, the organizers selected and unveiled representative works such as a photo of a desperate attempt to climb a tree, penguins lined up to jump off a cliff like divers, and a lizard standing on the head of an iguana. Hundreds of entries have already been submitted from around the world for this year's competition.
Stefan Maier, the European Marketing Manager at Nikon, a sponsor of the competition, expressed, "It’s an honor to work with the fantastic partners at the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, as we continue to share our efforts to raise awareness for environmental protection through the power of photography this year. I really enjoyed seeing the funny submissions so far and hope to see even more in the month leading up to the deadline for entries."
◇How to train your dragon live-action debut
The animated series "How to Train Your Dragon" returns as a live-action film. The series, which began in 2010, has produced a total of three films, grossing over 2 trillion won worldwide, and is a signature work of DreamWorks. This time, it is being made as DreamWorks' first live-action film, set for its global premiere in Korea on the 6th.
The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon also exists in nature. Australian travel writer and photographer Rachelle Mackintosh captured a photo of a lizard perched on the head of a marine iguana on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos Islands in October 2023. It looks like a Viking warrior riding a dragon, just like in the movies.
There are also cute moments featuring lizards. Trevor Rix discovered lizards lingering under a rock while strolling along the Murrumbidgee River near Canberra, Australia. One of them popped out and raised a leg, appearing as if it were waving joyfully. He captured this moment and titled it "Waving Dragon."
◇Lions with dragons, rhinos in wigs
This year's competition featured many amusing photos depicting the everyday lives of wildlife. A scene of lion siblings struggling to climb a tree evokes the next moment where their mother appears and scolds them. The older sibling supporting and encouraging the younger one to climb is reminiscent of children who play all day at home.
A photo of a mudskipper taken in the Australian mudflats is a familiar sight from the western coast of Korea. It looks as if the fish is enjoying a mudpack. The sight of Gentoo penguins jumping into the sea from a cliff or a giant-horned rhinoceros resurfacing from the water wearing a grass wig also brings smiles.
The competition awards prizes in various institutional sectors, including mammals, birds, reptiles/amphibians/insects, fish/aquatic life, young creators under 25, juniors under 16, internet portfolios, and a popular award voted on the internet. The grand prize winner receives a safari trip to Masai Mara, Kenya.
References
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2025, https://www.comedywildlifephoto.com/