To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Full list of finalists for 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards revealed
Featured Image Credit: Jason Moore/The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards / Vittorio Ricci/The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Full list of finalists for 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards revealed

The photos will make even the grumpiest of people crack a smile

The best time of the year is here.

No, I don't mean Christmas or your birthday - I mean when the finalists for the annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are revealed.

From birds and bears, to kangaroos and owls, there's an array of funny photos that have been named as finalist-worthy.

Perfect for a Friday read; sit back, relax, and enjoy the following snaps.

Birds argue in Poland's Bialowieza Forest.
JACEK STANKIEWICZ/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Who knew bears had their own handshakes?
THOMAS VIJAYAN - THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

One photo shares a family of greenfinches that appear to be having a dispute.

The youngster pointing its wing looks like it's making a valid argument - or maybe placing blame for something on one of its siblings.

Elsewhere, two adorable young bear cubs look like they were performing their own secret handshake.

Cute!

This owl was feeling rather blue.
JOHN-BLUMENKAMP/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Just three penguins living their best lives.
DARIO PODESTA/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Apparently fish have legs now...
DANIELLE GOONAN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
An otter dancing.
Vittorio Ricci/The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Photographer John Blumenkamp gave his owl photo the title 'Monday Blahs', and it's very accurate.

Meanwhile, the three penguins appeared to be holding fins as they emerged from the water in Islas Malvinas.

The underwater shot sees a bat fish minding its own business and, just to clarify who those of you who may have done a double-take, bat fish do not have legs.

It's just a scuba diver swimming behind it at the perfect time.

The goose seems to be deep in thought.
ALLEN HOLMES/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Is that a fox smoking a cigar?
: DAKOTA VACCARO/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
This puffin is a mood.
BRIAN MATTHEWS/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

Other photos include a goose walking along the beach looking very deep. in thought, while a young fox was snapped 'smoking a cigar'.

Fear not, it's actually just a stick.

Similar to the solemn-looking owl, an arctic puffin seen off the Farne Islands looked to be having a bad day as well.

What a cheeky monkey.
DELPHINE CASIMIR/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Snowball or grouse?
JACQUES POULARD/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
We don't know what's happening here either.
JAKUB WOZNY/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
A kangaroo rockin' out in an air guitar.
JASON MOORE/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

This snap of a kangaroo went on to be crowed as this year's overall winner.

Photographer Jason Moore said of his work: "I was driving past a mob of Western Grey Kangaroos feeding in an open field that was filled with attractive yellow flowers.

"I had my camera with me, so I stopped to grab a few photos. I suddenly noticed this individual adopt a humorous pose - to me it looks like he's practising strumming on his Air Guitar."

If Gandalf was a polar bear.
KHURRAM KHAN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
What does it say?!
MATTI RAUVALA/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Go home, owl. You're drunk.
MARK SCHOCKENTHE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Two horses doing the Tango.
DANNY SULLIVAN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Something startled this leopard.
PAUL GOLDSTEIN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

Leopard snaps always go down as storm with people as it's quite difficult to get a photo of the elusive and stealthy animals.

This picture in particular is a personal favorite as the large cat appears to be startled by something.

Elsewhere, photographer Pratick Mondal caught the brilliant moment a macaque looked like it was trying to hitch a ride.

Hitch-hiking monkey.
PRATICK MONDAL/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Family photo.
ZOE ASHDOWN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
A heron face plants into the water.
VITTORIO RICCI/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
A turtle befriends a dragonfly.
TZAHI FINKELSTEIN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

Tzahi Finkelstein's photo of the turtle and the dragonfly was 'highly commended' by this year's judges.

Finkelstein said of the picture: "The swamp turtle is surprised and smiles at the dragonfly resting on its nose."

A smiling owl.
VINCE MAIDEN/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Caught red-handed.
ALEX PANSIER/THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023
Wallabies play Patty Cake.
WAYNE SORENSEN/COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2023

You can find all 44 of this year's finalists' submissions here.

Topics: News, Good News, Animals