“While photographing pride lions In the Serengeti, I watched a group of cubs express their inner child tantrums by relentlessly demanding milk and attention from their mother, much to the annoyance of the adult lions,” writes photographer Bret Saalwachter.
“Life in the dry season is no picnic – lions eagerly await the Great Migration and the celebration it promises – but it brings about some incredible wildlife behavior and these cubs were the stars of the show. For over an hour they followed their mother around the famous rocky outcrops of the Serengeti – those iconic rocky outcrops that dot the landscape – alternately trying to nurse and play. Each time the mother, already in a bad mood due to in the sweltering heat, let out a quick roar of disapproval and ran away from the circus, but the cubs, like any persistent little ones, chased her, biting her and demanding more attention, this drama was repeated again and again until I caught the perfect moment: the entire pride, in complete unison, seemed to say: “Not this again!”
Saalwachter's photo of the meeting (above) is now a finalist in the competition. 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
A windy day at Bempton Cliffs during nesting season.
Photo: Alison Tuck/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
Every year the awards celebrate the hilarious pranks of the animal kingdom, and this year was no exception. From stupid birds From flying squirrels and open-mouthed fish to gossiping leopards, you'll laugh at every image. The winners will be announced on December 9th.
![Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2025 Andrew Mortimer Melbourne Australia Title: If I Had Seen Further... Description: If I Had Seen Further, It Would Have Been Standing on the Shoulders of a Giant [frog] With. A colony of frogs lives in the casing of a residential building at the mine, about 2 hours' drive from Leonora. A little too short to be seen behind the PVC body, they do the job where they can. Animal: Frog. Location: Leonora.](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Andrew-Mortimer_The-Shoulders-of-Giants.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
A colony of frogs lives in the well of a mining apartment building, about two hours' drive from Leonora. A little too short to be seen behind the PVC body, they do the job where they can.
Photo: Andrew Mortimer/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
Instructor Lemur demonstrates impeccable enthusiasm, reaching heights to embrace the universe. Student Lemur wonders before breakfast whether enlightenment is worth such effort. Flexibility? Optional. Dramatic flair? Required.
Photo: Andrey Gilyov / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
This was taken in Japan where I watched a white-tailed eagle place a fish in a hole and protect it. This one had a fish and saw another eagle trying to steal it.
Photo: Annette Kirby/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
A porcupine fish that has a mouth full of algae and can't seem to close its mouth. So, he has this perpetual look of shock and his dental hygiene probably worries me more than it does him!
Photo: Bingqian Gao/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
Meet the Frog Prince from my little garden – he's been lounging around guarding my vine, waiting for a kiss, but I think he's just here for the grapes. This adorable amphibian seems to have mistaken the vine for his royal court, lounging among the plump fruit as if he were the monarch of the garden.
1 credit / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Beate Ammer
Rest day in Iceland after a 5 week scientific field session in Greenland. A white-tailed eagle was being chased by a Dutchman!
Credit: Antoine Reser / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Antoine Reser
The hornbill was spooked by the approaching tawny eagle and decided it was probably wiser to leave quickly. His clumsy exit was captured in a series of stills, but this one for me perfectly captured the hornbill's panic at that moment. The hornbill escaped safely, although I doubt the tawny eagle was seriously interested in grabbing the hornbill's beak anyway.
Credit: Jeff Martin / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
This Yellow-cheeked Gibbon was just hanging out in the trees. Looks like he's waiting for his beer to be served.
Photo: Diana Rebman. / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Diana Rebman
These are two brothers and sisters, the smaller of which is a female leopard. They were playing with each other and for a moment the male just put his hand on her shoulder and looked like he was cussing out the other leopard.
Photo: Hikkaduwa Liyanage Prashanta Vinod. / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 KHLPVINOD
During heavy rain, the male shakes his mane several times, irritating his partner.
Photo: Massimo FELICI. / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Massimo Felici
Two bridled guillemots in the midst of a family dispute. The island of Hornøya is always a hectic mix of chaos and noise, with squabbling seabirds vying for space and nesting sites. Sometimes you just want to bite your neighbors head off – literally!
Photo: Warren Price/Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025
This flying squirrel looks like it's throwing a towel in the air – arms outstretched, total surrender!
Photo: Stefan Kruijsbergs / Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2025 Stefan Kruijsbergs
2025 Holiday Gift Guide
