(CNN) — This has been a great week for fans of funny animal pictures.
the Fat Bear Week It’s taking place now, with public voting starting on Wednesday after the event almost fell victim to the US government shutdown Comedy Wildlife Photo Awardsbased in the United Kingdom, has announced its list of 2023 finalists.
These awards also include helping the public with the important task of reviewing photos showing animals in funny poses and voting for the funniest one for the Audience Award. There’s also a chance to win £500 (about US$600) in the draw.
Screaming Lemur: This photo of a black-and-white collared lemur was taken in Madagascar by Russian photographer Sergei Savy. It has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2023. (Credit: Sergey Savvi/Courtesy Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)
Should the ball seal running at full speed along the English coast take the crown? Or how about the stylish Ubud monkey that uses its tail as a fake moustache? Maybe you’ll be convinced by a turtle’s friendship with a dragonfly, or an energetic newborn koala with its “jazzie hands” in the air.
The seal scurries along the English shore. (Credit: Adrian Schlesuk/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)
However, all this comic anthropomorphism has a dangerous side.
The awards, set up by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sollam in 2015, also promote wildlife conservation. This year’s competition supports the Whitley Trust for Nature, a British charity that helps fund conservationists around the world.
“Jungle Dude”: Belgian photographer Delphine Casimir photographed this playful monkey making a mustache with its tail in the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali. (Photo credit: Delphine Casimir/Courtesy: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)
The expert judging panel includes British celebrities such as TV presenter Kate Humble and comedian Hugh Dennis, as well as acclaimed wildlife photographers Daisy Gilardini and Will Pollard Lucas.
On November 23, the overall winner, winners in each category and those who received special mention will be announced. The best photo will win a week-long safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara region, as well as a handcrafted prize.
Distressed Owl: John Blumenkamp captured this photo of a great gray owl trapped in a depression in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. (Photo credit: John Blumenkamp/Courtesy: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards)
However, for unconditional laughter, it does not end here.
the first Wildlife comedy directed African safari It will launch in Tanzania in October 2024, and will be directed by prize founders Hicks and Solam and wildlife expert Humble.
An eight-night trip costs £11,425 (about US$13,900) per person in a double room. Beware of laugh-out-loud moments on open safari vehicles: you don’t want to start laughing out loud during the wildebeest migration.
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