A caiman in a wig: the funniest animal photos of 2026 are here

The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards revealed its 40 finalists this week — picked from a record 10,000+ entries by photographers in 112 countries — and they're pure joy: a caiman wearing a wig of swamp grass, two brown bears that look like they're sharing a joke, a leopard doing a handstand, a meerkat giving a last-minute grooming inspection before the family photo, and an elephant that appears to be about to nudge a safari jeep. The contest uses laughter with a purpose: humour makes people feel empathy toward wildlife, and empathy drives better behaviour toward it. Winners are announced December 8.