CNN
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A smiling elephant seal, a stuck squirrel and a contemplative chimpanzee are among the images shortlisted for this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Forty images, four portfolios and three videos were selected for this year’s competition, according to a statement from organizers released Thursday.
Other entries – a selection of which can be seen in the gallery above – include a crashed tern, a clumsy owl and sloth bear cubs clinging to their mother for a ride.
“These images not only capture the humor and charm of wildlife, but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Stefan Maier, senior general manager of marketing for Nikon Europe, in the release.
“At Nikon, we are extremely proud to be part of a competition that brings both joy and awareness to the wonders of our natural world.”
Nearly 9,000 applications from 98 countries were received and will be analyzed by a team of judges.
There is also a People’s Choice Award open to public voting on the competition website.
Each year the competition supports a sustainable conservation organisation and the Whitley Fund for Nature has been shortlisted for 2024. The UK-based charity supports conservation leaders from the Global South.
Tom Sullam, co-founder of the Awards, said it had been an “incredible year” for the competition.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this exciting journey, which makes us all laugh and raises awareness about animal conservation,” Sullam said.
The overall, category and top honours winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 10 December.
All finalists will be part of an exhibition at Gallery@Oxo in London from 10th to 16th December.
