Comedy Wildlife Photography awards 2020 finalists – in pictures

Surprise smiles, Lake Bogoria, Kenya

While walking on trail at the southern side of Lake Bogoria, the photographer spotted a group of dwarf mongooses

The race, India

‘My friends and I walked in the centre of the small town of Hampi in India. There was bicycle parking nearby. Suddenly a flock of langurs jumped on these bicycles and began to frolic. We were afraid to frighten them away, I started taking pictures from afar, but then we came very close to them and the langurs continued to play with bicycles’

Sun salutation class, Galapagos Islands

‘We were surprised to see that sea lions actively practise yoga. Guess they need to get their zen as well’

So hot, Japan

A monkey soaks in natural hot springs

Monkey business, Kinabatangan River in Borneo, Malaysia

‘While on a trip to Borneo, I had many opportunities to watch monkeys interacting with each other. These pig-tailed macaques showed me a bit more than I bargained for!’

Almost time to get up, Newport News, Virginia, US

I had to stay late at work, Chubut, Argentina

‘South sea elephant in Patagonia (Isla Escondida) They adopt very curious gestures!’

Lamentation! Spitzbergen, Norway

Having a laugh, Caithness, Scotland

‘A young common seal chills out on a rock in Sinclair Bay, its thick layer of blubber moulding into the contours of the rock. Looking as if it is enjoying a really good joke, the seal is, in fact, yawning’

Hide and seek, Devon, England

‘As this azure damselfly slowly woke up, he became aware of my presence. I was lined up to take a profile picture of his wings and body, but quite sensibly the damsel reacted to the human with the camera by putting the marsh grass stem between me and it. I took the shot anyway. It was only later that I realised how characterful it was. And how much the damselfly looks like one of the muppets’

Smiley, El Hierro, Canary Islands

Seriously, would you share some? Scotland

‘Atlantic puffins are amazing flyers and their fishing talents are, well, as you see, some do better than others! I just love the second puffin’s look: can I just have one please?

It’s a mocking bird! Near Kirkcudbright, Scotland

‘I was hoping a kingfisher would land on the “No fishing” sign but I was over the moon when it landed for several seconds with a fish. It then flew off with its catch. It appeared to be mocking the person who erected the sign!’

Social distance, please! Kaudulla national park, Sri Lanka

‘This is the beginning of a scene which lasted approximately one minute and in which each of the rose-ringed parakeets used a foot to clean the partner’s beak. While the whole scene was very informative, this first photo with the male already holding his foot high in the air was just asking to be taken out of context’

Wait up Mommy, look what I got for you! Kaziranga, India

‘At the Kaziranga national park, this elephant mother and calf seemed completely oblivious to our jeep and went about their stroll through the pond. The mom seemed to be giving her calf lessons on eating the hyacinth: select a lush green bunch, rip them out from the root, pound the stems against the trunk to remove the mud and then swallow whole. The calf looked like she was thoroughly enjoying the lesson and duly followed her mother’s every move’

Tough negotiations, Israel

I could puke, Falkland Islands

‘This picture was taken at sunrise. A group of gentoo penguins went to the shore to go fishing when one stopped and vomited’

Laughing hippo, Masai Mara national reserve, Kenya

‘The baby hippo whispered to the mother’s ear: “I had a wonderful dream. Alex invited me for tea so I went to his tent. He pointed to the empty chair and invited me to sit on it. I did so and suddenly the chair broke. I was on the floor. Alex started laughing and went to the adjoining chair to sit down. As soon as he sat down, I heard a loud crack. His chair also broke and he was thrown on to the floor. We both started laughing with tears coming from our eyes.” Then I woke up and started smiling’

O sole mio, Hungary

‘It’s like he was just “singing” to me! She had a very nice voice’

Faceplant, Namibia

‘This elephant calf in Namibia was slow to notice when his mother started to move away. When he tried to hurry and catch up, he tripped over his front feet and faceplanted. His mother heard the commotion and immediately came back to help him up, and the calf continued on his way with no damage except to his dignity’