A shocked monkey and headless penguin: It's time to vote for the funniest wildlife photo of 2022

London, United Kingdom - The shortlist for the Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards is out, and it's time to vote for your favorite funny animal. Which pic makes you laugh like a hyena? Is it the awkwardly waving raccoon, the goose with the funny walk, or the shocked monkey?

This Proboscis monkey looks like it just heard some jaw dropping gossip.
This Proboscis monkey looks like it just heard some jaw dropping gossip.  © © Andy Evans/ Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Voting is open for the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award portion of the eighth annual The Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards.

You can vote on their website until November 27. Upon casting your vote, you'll have the chance to win a cash prize of $560, courtesy of competition sponsors at Affinity Photo.

These amazing animal pics are sure to boost your mood.

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"With so much going on in the world, we could all use a bumper dose of fun and laughter and this year’s finalists have definitely delivered that," professional photographer and contest co-founder Tom Sullam said in a press release.

Per Sullam, this year's finalists will make "you smile and wonder at the incredible animals that are on this earth with us, and we love that about the competition."

The 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photo finalists are wildly funny

This Mute Swan looks like it is rushing in to say something very important in Bojan Bencic's entry called Funny Walk shot in Croatia.
This Mute Swan looks like it is rushing in to say something very important in Bojan Bencic's entry called Funny Walk shot in Croatia.  © ©Bojan Bencic/ Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

The Comedy Wildlife Photo awards short list

This racoon pic by Miroslav Srb is titled, Hello everyone.
This racoon pic by Miroslav Srb is titled, Hello everyone.

The Comedy Wildlife Photo awards short list includes 40 standalone photographs and 10 portfolio entries. These photos present "a wonderful eclectic mix of hilarious wildlife," per the press release.

There's a raccoon awkwardly waving "hey" at the camera and a fox winking over his shoulder and as if to say, "I've got this."

The finalists were selected from thousands of entries submitted from professional and amateur photographers from all a round the world.

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There's a pic of a galloping, farting zebra. Some images in the running will confuse at first glance and challenge you to really look close, like the one of a moose that's, maybe, grinning? And the owls in the tree.

Others, like the monkey that looks like he's reacting to some hot gossip, simply delight. There's even one of a penguin that looks like it's lost it's head and two vultures promenading as if they were going to a Bridgerton ball.

In other words, there's a beautiful beastie for everyone.

This photo of Eastern Screech Owls, titled Tight Fit! was taken by Mark Schocken in Largo, Florida.
This photo of Eastern Screech Owls, titled Tight Fit! was taken by Mark Schocken in Largo, Florida.  © ©Mark Schocken/ Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards contest started in 2015

Sullam and fellow photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks founded the awards in 2015. They wanted a competition that focused on the funnier side of wildlife photography and promoted wildlife conservation.

Every year, the competition supports a conservation organization. This year, they're working with a United Kingdom Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South.

The overall Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards contest winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, which includes photographers, wildlife experts, and conservation, and announced on December 8. The photographer of the winning image will be rewarded with a week-long safari in Kenya.

Cover photo: © Andy Evans/ Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2022

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