One caiman has acquired a rock-star hairdo. A meerkat appears to be sorting out a friend’s hair. A squirrel is airborne above an owl. Nature has supplied the pictures; the group-chat captions practically write themselves.
These are three finalists in the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. The shortlist brings together photographs and videos that turn fleeting animal moments into accidental comedy. They are finalists, with Nikon confirming that the winners will be revealed on 8 December.
First up is Paolo Torre’s Elvis. The caiman surfaced with vegetation resting on its head, producing the impression of an elaborate hairstyle. Its eye, open mouth and wonderfully misplaced “hair” make the photograph feel ready for an album cover. Popular Science’s gallery identifies the image and credits Torre.
Subi Sridharan’s Hair Check Before the Family Photo offers a different kind of preparation. Three meerkats stand together, while one reaches toward another’s head. It is easy to read the scene as the group chat five minutes before a night out: someone is ready, someone is checking, and someone is still being checked.
Kevin Lohman’s Are You Kidding Me? catches a squirrel mid-leap above an owl on a branch. The frozen instant gives us the airborne squirrel and the owl’s watchful expression in the same frame. Our suggested caption: me, avoiding meetings.
The wider competition has a serious purpose behind the laughter. CNN’s coverage, carried by ABC17, explains that it was created in 2015 to use humour to promote wildlife conservation. This year’s shortlist was drawn from more than 10,000 submissions from 112 countries, according to organisers.
That combination is what makes the photographs so inviting: a moment worth looking at closely, followed by the recognition that we have all worn a questionable hairstyle or tried to dodge an obligation.
Browse Popular Science’s selection or the official finalists gallery, choose your animal mood and send it to the friend with matching energy.
