A bear seeming to pedal through the air, an owl with a look that birders might call unimpressed, and a squirrel with an exceptionally full mouth are among ten photographs presented as finalists in the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. The images span Alaska, California, Peru, China, Namibia, Borneo and beyond. Their humor lies in how a split-second pose looks to us—not in proof that the animals meant to perform for the camera.
The gallery was published by BBC Future on 2 October 2026. Here are the ten scenes, along with the context behind the visual jokes.
10 funny animal photos from the 2026 awards finalists
1. A brown bear appears to pedal through the air
Near Lake Clark, Alaska, a female brown bear lies on her back with her paws raised. The pose looks like bicycle kicks—or a warm-up for summer—but that exercise routine is our human interpretation of a fleeting moment.
2. A red squirrel with a mouthful
In Germany, a red squirrel is photographed carrying an oversized mouthful. The packed cheeks make this a simple, instantly readable sight gag.
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3. An eagle touches down on sea ice
On Finland’s western coast, a white-tailed eagle lands on sea ice. Photographer Tapani Linnanmäki has photographed birds at the site for years. He suspects this could be the individual that won the competition’s 2024 people’s choice award, but he cannot confirm the bird’s identity.
4. A mantis seems to be sunbathing
In the proposed Bosques del Araza Regional Conservation Area in Cusco, Peru, a praying mantis appears to lounge or pose. The apparent pose has a practical explanation: a leaf hides the mantis’s hind legs. The location also gives the picture a more serious backdrop. The proposed conservation area aims to protect river headwaters and is increasingly threatened by illegal gold mining.
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5. An owl gives an unimpressed look
A mountain scops owl in China’s Nanling National Forest Park seems to regard the camera with profound skepticism. The expression is an impression prompted by a burst of photographs taken by birders; it does not tell us what the owl was feeling.
6. Spadefish meet a looming silhouette
In Dumaguete, Philippines, photographer Kyo Chen captures spadefish as the silhouette of a whale shark appears behind them. The gallery frames the fish as looking terrified, but the image offers a human reading of their appearance, not evidence of their thoughts.
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At Natural Bridges State Beach in California, Kevin Lohman photographs a squirrel launching toward a young great horned owl. The animals fell to the grass, and the squirrel repeated the stunt twice more. Lohman said both appeared unharmed.
8. Meerkats line up for a portrait
Three meerkats in Namibia seem to have assembled for a family photograph. The smallest is being groomed, adding an affectionate detail to the tidy lineup.
9. An orangutan raises a finger
In Borneo, a wild orangutan is caught with its middle finger raised after a meal. The gesture reads as cheeky to human viewers, but there is no reason to treat it as intentional human communication. The moment also sits against a grave conservation reality: orangutans are critically endangered, and their forest home is rapidly being destroyed.
10. Two young bears spar
At Chinitna Bay, Alaska, photographer Charles Janson captures two teenage brown bears playfully sparring. The behavior is described as practice for real fights as adult males. Janson said, “There is debate about whether the facial expressions of these bears are at all equivalent to human smiles – but I like to think that they are.” His qualification matters: the photograph invites a comparison, but does not settle what a bear’s expression means.
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What makes these animal photographs funny?
Each picture invites viewers to map a familiar human scene onto animal behavior: exercise, a knowing expression, a family portrait or a rude gesture. That resemblance is the joke, not a scientific ranking of animal intelligence or a reliable window into emotion. The gallery’s strongest moments also have context beyond the punchline—from a leaf hiding a mantis’s legs to young bears practicing behavior they may need as adults.
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