KIDSNEWS

Laugh your head off at these funny finalists in the Comedy Wildlife
Photography Awards

Antimo Iannella, October 27, 2022 6:30PM Kids News

JUST FOR FUN Reading level: Green

From an antelope with wings to a headless penguin, these fun-loving animals are sure to put a smile
on your face.

The lighter side of animal photography – including wallabies play-fighting in Queensland – is

showcased in the annual Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

The popular awards recognise the best comics of the animal kingdom and the photographers who
capture them in action.

Some of the top entries this year – among 40 finalists – include a charming little raccoon waving to
the camera, a cool fox giving a wink, a super squirrel flying through the air and a galloping, farting
zebra.

British photographer Michael Eastwell snapped the play-fighting wallabies at sunrise at Cape
Hillsborough, 1000km north of Brisbane.

“Apart from its beauty, Cape Hillsborough is renowned* for its resident kangaroos and wallabies,”
Mr Eastwell said in his competition entry.

“I visited the area for three consecutive* sunrises, but it was my final morning that I captured this
beautiful spectacle*: two wallabies playing/fighting on the beach as the sun burst through the
surrounding clouds.”

CLICK THROUGH THE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

 Hello everyone Not so cat-like refl
Photographer Miroslav Srb fed this raccoon shrimp This lion cub's climb down
on Florida Beach in the US before the animal thanked didn't go as planned but he w
him with a wave.
Image source: Jennifer Handley/com
Image source: Miroslav Srb/comedywildlifephoto.com

The finalists were selected from thousands of entries from professional* and amateur* photographers
from around the world.

The awards were founded* in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom
Sullam who wanted to create a competition focused on the funnier side of wildlife photography.

Mr Sullam said this year’s short-listed photographs would brighten anyone’s day.

“With so much going on in the world, we could all use a bumper* dose of fun and laughter and this
year’s finalists have definitely delivered that,” he said.

“When you see these amazing photographs … it makes you smile and wonder at the incredible
animals that are on this earth with us.”

Readers can vote in the People’s Choice Award for the animal snap that made them “laugh loudest”
until November 27.

All award winners will be announced on December 8, with a week-long safari in Kenya awarded for
the overall top shot.
To vote in the People’s Choice Award and to see more finalist photographs, see
comedywildlifephoto.com

Which is your favourite photograph

from this story?
Headless penguin 15 %

Play-fighting wallabies 6%

Play-fighting meerkats 6%

Waving raccoon 3%

Lion cub's awkward climb down from tree 6%

Bear smelling flowers 3%

Grinning tiggerfish 9%

Winking fox 9%

Helpful monkey and relaxed friend 4%

Bear peeking around tree 1%

Jumping squirrel 3%

Talk to the fin penguin 9%

Mother and baby macaque 1%

Walking owl 3%
:
 Salmon slapping bear 7%

Flying antelope 3%

Fart-powered zebra 12 %

2608 votes

GLOSSARY

renowned: well known, famous

consecutive: one after another, in a row
spectacle: something that is impressive and exciting to look at
professional: a person who does a particular activity as a job
amateur: a person who does a particular activity without it being their job
founded: established, started
bumper: very large

EXTRA READING

Best wildlife pictures of 2022( https://www.kidsnews.com.au/animals/take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side-

the-best-animal-photography-of-2022/news-story/d1c8ff8c2d8d592e97d16f33905293c8 )

Funny wildlife shots are something to smile about( https://www.kidsnews.com.au/animals/worlds-

funniest-wildlife-shots-are-something-to-smile-about/news-
story/0001d65b723f7bf46b64bc50a19bf1d2 )

How to be a junior wildlife photographer( https://www.kidsnews.com.au/animals/how-to-be-a-

junior-wildlife-photographer/news-story/7e7ad3a95ea2d8db84eaef59cf7e6d9b )

Fifth grader wins global photo prize( https://www.kidsnews.com.au/arts/fifth-grader-vidyun-r-

hebbar-wins-young-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-prize/news-
story/0405406f5ec96d7e90be7de9ccd0aa09 )

QUICK QUIZ

1. Where was the photograph of the play-fighting wallabies taken?

2. How many times did the photographer visit the area before getting the photograph of the wallabies?
3. When were the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards founded?
4. Why did Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam create the awards?
5. What date will the winners be announced?
:
LISTEN TO THIS STORY

Kids News
Laugh your head off
at funny wildlife
snaps

00:00 02:47

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Pick your favourites
Look at the photos. Choose your top three favourite photos and rank them from first to third. Write
the reasons why you made your choice for each of the photos.

Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity

Curriculum Links: English, Civics and Citizenship

2. Extension
Choose one of the photos. Write the story of what is happening in the photo from the animal’s point
of view.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity

Curriculum Links: English

VCOP ACTIVITY
Describe it
Choose one of the animal photographs in this story and make a list of five nouns that you see. Then
describe those five nouns with five adjectives.

Add a preposition to those five nouns and adjectives.

Now choose your favourite bundle and put all the words together to make one descriptive sentence.
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