Comedy Wildlife Awards 2021

The funniest and most popular photography competition in the world – The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 has reached its conclusion and is proud to announce that the OVERALL WINNER of this year’s competition is Ken Jensen, a keen amateur photographer from Blackburn for his amazing photograph entitled ‘Ouch!’

Ouch! © Ken Jenson

The Competition Winners were revealed on BBC’s ‘The One Show’ in front of millions of viewers, a first for the competition that has seen its popularity grow and grow despite only being created 7 years ago.  Up against 7,000 hilarious entries from across the globe, Ken’s image of a Golden Silk Monkey, looking a little more than uncomfortable, just pipped the others photos to the top title. 

The winning image was captured on the bridge that runs over the river Xun in the Lonsheng Gorge, Yunnan, in China during a family holiday in 2016.  The monkeys roam freely in the forest area, playing on the bridge in family groups and are very inquisitive of humans and not at all shy. This particular male monkey was actually showing a sign of aggression as he sat on one of the supporting wires, but as Ken’s fabulous shot shows – timing is everything.

Commenting on the good news, Ken said:

“I was absolutely overwhelmed to learn that my entry had won, especially when there were quite a number of wonderful photos entered.  The publicity that my image has received over the last few months has been incredible, it is such a great feeling to know that one’s image is making people smile globally as well as helping to support some fantastically worthwhile conservation causes. 

I would like to say a really big thank you to everyone who has enjoyed or voted for my image and would also like to thank the competition organisers without whom it would not have been possible. And I absolutely love the trophy!

Finally, I want to thank my wife Min, for the support and encouragement that she provides in my photography adventures.

As 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Ken wins a once in a lifetime safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya, with Alex Walker’s Serian, a unique handmade trophy from the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania, a photography bag from THINK TANK and a Goofie Bag brimming with goodies.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards was co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam who wanted to create a competition that focused on the lighter side of wildlife photography and help promote wildlife conservation through humour. This year, the competition is supporting Save Wild Orangutans by donating 10{b7f689427f81e317b7f60b5a54fde01ab1a33ca18679f45a233af3a42b3f6e76} of its total net revenue to the charity. The initiative safeguards wild orangutans in and around Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo.

Commenting on this year’s competition, TV presenter, Kate Humble said:

“I have been a judge on The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards since it started and I l love it!  It never fails to cheer me up.  But – the photographs can’t just be funny, they have got to be of really excellent quality and this year the competition entrants have really surpassed themselves….and as for the winner, you will see that it is a photograph that speaks a thousand words.  Well, one word actually – Ouch!”

The Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public went to John Speirs for his charming shot taken in Scotland of a pigeon with a leaf on its face entitled ‘I Guess Summer’s Over!’ 

Pigeon, I guess summers over. © John Spiers.

John from Oban said of the Award:

“I first heard of the awards about 3 years ago, then a friend encouraged me to enter my pigeon shot as they thought it was rather funny…it seems they were right!  Comedy Wildlife has been a great, fun thing to do and be involved in and I’d like to thank all the people who voted for me and the other finalists.”

The Animals of the Land Category Award was won by Arthur Trevino with ‘Ninja Prairie Dog’ for his stunning photo of a majestic bald eagle seemingly being startled and deterred by a brave little prairie dog.  Arthur has confirmed the dog managed to flee to fight another day.

Ninja-Prairie-Dog. © Arthur Tevino

Other category winners included Chee Kee Teo’s hilarious shot ‘Time for School’, our featured image, of a smooth coated young otter and his mother that took Creatures of the Water Award.  Chee has captured a very bemused expression (familiar to all parents worldwide) as mum encourages the youngster to get into the water.  This year, the winner of the Video Category Award was Rahul Lakhmani whose awesome clip entitled ‘Hugging Best Friend after Lockdown’ shows a white throated Kingfisher in Delhi swooping in topple another one, in what looks like an over-enthusiastic hug!

In addition to the Category Winners, there were 10 entries that were recognised as Highly Commended Winners:

Andy Parkinson, Chu Han Lin, David Eppley, Jakub Hodan, Jan Piecha, Lea Scaddan, Nicolas de Vaulx, Pal Marchhart and Roland Kranitz

Chinese Whispers, © Jan Piecha

The Green Stylist © Gurumoorthy K

Let’s Dance © Andy Parkinson

Missed © Lea Scaddan

Treehugger © Jakub Hodáñ

Peek-a-boo © Pal Marchhart

 
I got you, © Roland Kranitz

 
See who jumps high, © Chu Han Lin

 
The Majestic and Graceful Bald Eagle, © David Eppley

 
How do you get that damn window open © Nicolas-de-Vaulx

Vicki Jauron, a regular entrant to the competition was awarded the Portfolio Award for ‘The Joys of a Mud Bath’ a series of 4 wonderful images depicting a playful young elephant having fun in the mud in Matusadona Park, Zimbabwe

Find out details of next years competition and see if you have something that might be a little bit different for next years entry. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website at www.comedywildlifephoto.com

All images are copyright © of the respective photographers and Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.