The winners of the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have been announced, marking a landmark year for the globally popular photography competition.
The 2025 edition received a record 10,000 entries from 109 countries, the highest number in the awards’ 11-year history, underscoring the growing appeal of wildlife photography that combines humor with conservation awareness.
Overall Winner: High Five
The overall winning photo, titled High Five, was captured by Mark Meth Cohn in Rwanda and features a gorilla’s playful display amidst misty mountains. Cohn spent four days trekking through dense terrain in search of gorilla families before encountering the Amahoro group, where one young male stole the show.
Mark says he “did pirouettes, threw and kicked high. It was pure joy to watch him perform”.
The image impressed the judges with its perfect timing, characteristic expression and ability to humanize wildlife without compromising respect for the animal or its environment.
We’re 100 percent sure that no one is truly devoted to high fives like this extremely happy gorilla captured by Mark Meth Cohn.
Junior Winner: Baptism of the Reluctant Convert
The Junior category, open to photographers under the age of 16, was won by Grayson Bell for Baptism of the Unwilling Convert. A photo taken in Maine, US, shows two green frogs locked in a moment that seems more festive than random.
Grayson admitted he didn’t notice the moment until he looked at the pictures later at home.
“I showed it to my parents and they loved it too and it became one of my favourites. We all thought it looked like one frog trying to baptize another!”
The judges praised the film for its humor, spontaneity and storytelling, especially from such a young photographer.
Grayson Bell took a hilarious picture of a frog baptizing another frog. He obviously had no idea what was going on.
Young Photographer Winner: Hit the dance floor
The Young Photographer (25 and under) award went to Paula Rustemeier from the Netherlands for Hit the dance floor, which captures two red foxes seemingly dancing while playing.
Paula says: “Watching the foxes play with their quirky personalities really makes you giggle”, a sentiment echoed by the jury who praised the film’s charm and technical quality.
Paula Rustemeier’s picture of three foxes experiencing life is the dream of many.
Some honorable mentions
Have you ever seen an emo squirrel? If not, then don’t worry. Christy Grinton captured his image of a squirrel with a gorgeous hairdo.
A confused but stylish squirrel whose hairstyle puts many to shame, as clicked by Christy Grinton.
Have you ever seen a bird get smacked in the face by a blade of grass? Here’s one for you.
“So, where exactly is the wind blowing from,” thought the bird as its entire face (including its eyes, of course) was covered in grass, as captured by Alison Tuck.
Tired of listening to that one person talk? Here’s a quick hack to keep them quiet for a while.
Warren Price may not have won the show, but he won our hearts by giving us this hack.
What are the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards?
Founded in 2015 by photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards were created to celebrate the lighter side of wildlife while promoting conservation through positive storytelling.
The competition has since partnered with Nikon and supports environmental charities, using humor as a gateway to engage a wider audience on the importance of protecting wildlife and natural habitats.
Read also | 7 images of 2024 selected in the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
Over the past ten years, the awards have grown from a niche online competition to an internationally recognized photography event that attracts professional photographers, amateurs and young enthusiasts alike. Past winners have included images of laughing seals, clumsy birds and expressive primates, all united by a common goal: to make people laugh and remind them of what’s at stake when wildlife is lost.
With record attendance this year, organizers say the awards continue to prove that comedy can be a powerful conservation tool, making wildlife photography accessible, relatable and widely shared across generations.
