From a squirrel apparently wedged into a tree to a whiskered tern making an ungainly landing, the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists captured the natural world at its most unexpectedly funny. The competition is now concluded: finalists were announced on September 26, 2024, and the winners were revealed on December 10, 2024.
That timeline matters because this is an archival look at the 2024 shortlist, not a current voting guide. Nearly 9,000 entries from 98 countries were considered, with the final selection spanning 40 single images, four portfolio entries and three videos.
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A global competition built around split-second timing
Founded in 2015 by wildlife photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the Comedy Wildlife Awards combine technically accomplished wildlife photography with a simple, accessible idea: sometimes an animal’s ordinary behavior becomes hilarious when a camera catches it at exactly the right instant.
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The 2024 entries featured mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects across nine categories. The humor generally came from timing, perspective or visual illusion—not from staged behavior. A bird can look as if it has forgotten how to land; a fish can appear to chase a bird through the sky; a small mammal can seem to have become stuck in a tree. The animals remain wild, while the comic interpretation belongs to the photograph and the viewer.
#1 Best Overall
Eight memorable finalist moments
“Stuck squirrel” — Milko Marchetti
The image that became the awards’ best-known 2024 finalist appears to show a red squirrel trapped halfway inside a tree cavity. The reality was less alarming and more charming. Marchetti explained that the squirrel was entering an old woodpecker nest in a cut tree at Podere Pantaleone park in Bagnacavallo, Ravenna, Italy, and had been caught at the moment it detached the support of its hind legs.
That fleeting movement created the illusion that the animal was jammed in place. It was not genuinely trapped or distressed. The photograph later won both the mammal category and the overall competition.
“Whiskered tern crash on landing” — Damyan Petkov
Petkov’s photograph freezes a whiskered tern in an apparently chaotic landing. The bird’s wings, body and feet seem to be negotiating several different plans at once. It later won the bird category—a fitting result for an image whose appeal depends almost entirely on catching a fraction of a second that the eye would normally miss.
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The title and framing give Ehmke’s frog photograph a surreal quality, making a small amphibian appear to occupy an impossible scene. The image later won the reptile and amphibian category. It is best understood as an unusual photographic composition and momentary pose; the title should not be taken to mean that the frog was literally inside a balloon unless confirmed by the original caption.
“Unexpected role swap” — Przemyslaw Jakubczyk
In Jakubczyk’s image, a fish appears to be pursuing a bald eagle across the sky. The visual joke reverses the expected predator-and-prey relationship, turning the fish into the aggressor and the eagle into the one apparently trying to escape. The photograph later won the fish and other aquatic animals category.
“Smiling elephant seal” — Gabriel Rojo
Rojo’s title captures the immediate reaction to the image: the elephant seal appears to be smiling. That is a description of the photograph’s expression and comic effect, not a claim that the animal was experiencing a human-like emotion. This distinction is useful when writing about wildlife images, where familiar facial shapes can invite very convincing anthropomorphic readings.
“Mantis flamenca” — Jose Miguel Gallego Molina
A Flemish mantis takes center stage in Molina’s shortlisted image. Its pose suggests the dramatic arm and body movements of a flamenco dancer, supplying the title’s comic interpretation. The mantis was not performing for the camera; the humor comes from the resemblance created by its natural posture and the photographer’s timing. The image later won the insect category.
“Smooching owlets” — Sarthak Ranganadhan
Two owlets appear to be exchanging an affectionate kiss in Ranganadhan’s photograph. Again, the title describes the visual impression rather than proving a human-style emotion. The image went on to win the Nikon Junior Photographer category, a reminder that the competition celebrates emerging photographers as well as established professionals.
More finalist titles worth seeking out
The wider shortlist included playful scenes represented by titles such as “Saying my prayers” by Christine Haines, “Laughing out loud” by Ingo Hamann, “Where do you think you are going?” by Jörn Clausen, “Peek-a-boo” by Alexander Fine, “I am coming!” by Inés Godínez and “The Pavarotti of owls” by Fred Amico.
Other verified finalist titles included “Cold shower” by Corentin Revel, “Monday morning” by Christopher Arnold, “The contemplative chimpanzee” by Arvind Mohandas, “Otter guru” by Charles Janson, “Hello world!” by Alex Pansier, “Song of the Zeisel” by Kath Aggiss, “I’ll tell you a secret” by Jan Piecha, “I’m too sexy for my love” by Artur Stankiewicz and “England cricket’s latest secret weapon” by Andy Rouse.
The shortlist also featured “Alright mate, back off, this is my bird” by Andy Rouse, “In love” by Andrea Rosado, “Holding on for a ride” by Alexander Fine, “Time to cool off” by Zikri Teo, “Parrotfish loves to be washed” by Wim Bellemans, “Shake, ruffle, rattle and roll” by Tapani Linnanmäki, “Mafia boss” by Takashi Kubo, “Nagging is a Universal Concept” by Scott Frier, “Wait, which Zebra is in front?” by Sarosh Lodhi, “The rock star” by Sanjay Patil, “Gang of four” by Ralph Robinson, “Easy fellas” by Philippe Ricordel, “Gecko fashion model” by Michela Bordoli, “The speed skater” by Mark Meth Cohn and “Hide and seek” by Leslie McLeod.
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What happened after the finalist announcement?
2024 awards timeline
- 2015: Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam co-founded the awards.
- September 26, 2024: The 2024 finalists were announced.
- Through October 31, 2024: Public voting ran for the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award, which included a reported £500 prize draw.
- December 10, 2024: The overall and category winners were announced in London.
Milko Marchetti’s “Stuck squirrel” took the overall prize as well as the mammal award. The principal prize was a one-week safari with Alex Walker’s Serian in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The winners announcement also confirmed category and highly commended images beyond the original finalist reveal.
Why the awards use humor to talk about conservation
The laughter is not separate from the competition’s conservation purpose. The founders have argued that wildlife and sustainability messaging can become relentlessly negative or emotionally exhausting. Humor offers a more welcoming entry point: a reader may first stop for a squirrel that appears to be stuck, then become more open to learning about wildlife, habitats and the people working to protect them.
The 2024 awards supported the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that backs conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South. The 2024 finalist announcement said that the organization had channelled £20 million to more than 200 conservationists in 90 countries over more than 30 years.
It is important not to overstate the evidence. The competition clearly presents humor as part of its conservation mission and partners with a conservation organization; the available information does not independently measure the precise conservation impact of these photographs. The strongest conclusion is more modest: the awards use laughter as an entry point to conversations that many people might otherwise find distant or difficult.
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Readers who enjoyed the finalist gallery may want to browse the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards book, a related collection based on the award series. Availability and edition details can change, so check the current retailer listing before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Image-credit and wildlife-writing note
Use the exact photographer credit and finalist title supplied by the competition or a reputable gallery. A gallery page does not automatically grant permission to download or republish an image. Editors should obtain photographs through the competition’s press or licensing channels.
Captions should also preserve the distinction between appearance and fact. An animal may appear to smile, pray, kiss or laugh, but those titles describe the visual story created by the photograph. Do not imply that animals were posed, trained or manipulated unless reliable source material specifically establishes it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the 2024 Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists also the winners?
No. The finalists were announced on September 26, 2024, and the winners were announced on December 10, 2024. Milko Marchetti’s “Stuck squirrel” ultimately won the overall award and the mammal category.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat happened to the squirrel in “Stuck squirrel”?
It was not genuinely trapped. Photographer Milko Marchetti explained that the red squirrel was entering an old woodpecker nest and had been photographed as it detached the support of its hind legs, creating the appearance that it was stuck.
What did the 2024 overall winner receive?
The principal prize was a one-week safari with Alex Walker’s Serian in Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
What conservation organization did the 2024 awards support?
The 2024 competition supported the Whitley Fund for Nature, which backs conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South.
The Bottom Line
The 2024 Comedy Wildlife Awards turned fleeting, ordinary wildlife behavior into joyful visual stories without needing to treat the animals as performers. “Stuck squirrel” ultimately won the competition, but the broader achievement was a shortlist that made wildlife approachable—and used that laughter to open the door to conservation.
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