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The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards shortlist includes Diego Perez’s “Sexy mantis” and Tanner Mansell’s “Spicy Orangutan,” two images whose humorous effect comes from a well-timed camera angle and an accidental moment. The contest says it received more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries. Winners are scheduled to be announced on 8 December 2026.
What’s on the 2026 shortlist?
The 2026 finalists span several formats: 40 individual photographs, three under-16 finalists, four portfolios and nine videos, according to contemporary coverage of the competition. The organizers described the more than 10,000 entries from 112 countries as a record for the contest.
The awards were founded in 2015 by Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam. Nikon became a partner in 2024, when the competition adopted its current Nikon-branded name. The organizers describe the event as combining wildlife photography with a conservation message.
Why does the “Sexy mantis” look like it is posing?
Diego Perez’s “Sexy mantis”
Diego Perez, a photographer from Peru, made the image during a night walk in Camanti, Cusco. A small green mantis peers above a leaf, with its forelegs appearing almost human-like above the edge.
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Perez says he used the leaf to conceal part of the insect and lowered his shooting angle until the forelegs created the comic impression. The pose is an effect of framing and perspective, not evidence that the mantis was deliberately performing for the camera.
Perez connects the location to the proposed Bosques del Araza Regional Conservation Area, which he says is threatened by illegal gold mining. The published equipment details list a Canon EOS R5 C camera and a Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO lens.
Rank #2
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Tanner Mansell’s “Spicy Orangutan”
Tanner Mansell, from the United States, photographed the orangutan in Borneo. In his account, the animal was finishing a meal with one finger extended, making the moment look like a rude gesture. Mansell says the timing was coincidental; the picture should not be read as evidence that the orangutan intended to gesture at the camera.
Mansell’s description also points to disappearing forest habitat and says he hopes the image will encourage people to care about orangutans.
Rank #3
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What about the “prancing sparrowhawk”?
The headline phrase “prancing sparrowhawk” is not confirmed by the finalist coverage available for this article. That coverage did not establish an official entry title, photographer or species identification for such an image, so no credit or further description can responsibly be attached to it here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the competition connect the photographs to conservation?
Co-founder Tom Sullam says, “We use humour to get people to feel empathy towards wildlife, and it’s that empathy that creates behavioural change for the better.” This describes the organizers’ intended rationale; it is not a measured finding that the competition has produced a particular conservation outcome.
Rank #4
- Class leading image quality, ISO range, image processing and metering equivalent to the award winning D500
- Large 3.2” 922k dot, tilting Lcd screen with touch functionality. Temperature: 0 °c to 40 °c (32 °f to 104 °f) humidity: 85 percentage or less (no condensation)
- 51 point AF system with 15 cross type sensors and group area AF paired with up to 8 fps continuous shooting capability
- 4k ultra hd and 1080p full hd video with stereo sound, power aperture control, auto ISO, 4k UHD time lapse and more
- Built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy connectivity through the Nikon snap bridge app
For 2026, Nikon Denmark and contemporary coverage name Born Free as the beneficiary, with 10% of competition profits going to the charity. Nikon UK’s page still names Whitley Fund for Nature, so its regional information conflicts with the current 2026 beneficiary details elsewhere. The stated share is of competition profits, not entry fees or total revenue.
When will the winners be announced?
Nikon scheduled the overall, category and highly commended results for 8 December 2026 in London. The National also reported that a finalist exhibition was scheduled at Gallery@Oxo from 9 to 13 December 2026. Both dates are upcoming as of 7 October 2026.
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