Cape Town – Spending time in nature can not only be relaxing but also entertaining – especially when you take your time to observe wildlife as some lensmen did.
From a giraffe riding a monkey to kangaroos performing a dance in Australia, this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards finalists showcase the biggest mix of animals seen in the competition.
In one photo, a young female tiger at India’s Jim Corbett National Park stands on her hind limbs to be able to scratch her face with a log — although it appears as if she is carrying it on her shoulders.
The judges have released their shortlisted images for the 2021 prizes and opened voting for the People’s Choice Award – inviting the public to vote for their favourite funny photo. If you vote by October 12, you stand a chance to win a new iPad.
The free competition, founded in 2015, focuses on the lighter side of wildlife photography and helps promote wildlife conservation through humour. This year, the competition is supporting the Save Wild Orangutans organisation, an initiative dedicated to safeguarding wild orangutans in and around Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo.
“We were overwhelmed with the number and quality of entries we received this year, with well over 7 000 photos submitted from every corner of the globe,” said co-founder of the competition and professional photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks.
“It was an amazing turnout, especially given the impact of the pandemic. The huge number of images we receive ever year illustrates the appetite there is to engage with conservation and reminds us that wildlife truly is incredible and hilarious and we must do all we can to protect it.”
The Category and Overall Winners will be announced on October 22. The creator of the top image wins a one-week safari with Alex Walker's Serian in the Masai Mara, Kenya, as well as a unique, handmade trophy from the Art Garage in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“Whittling down the list of photographs was harder than ever this year because there were so many funny pictures that had us laughing,” said co-founder Tom Sullam. “We can’t wait to see what the public choose as their favourite.”
