The year's funniest animal photos are in — and the mantis has never looked sultrer

The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 finalists are here: 40 photographs chosen from more than 10,000 entries — the most in the competition's history — sent in by photographers from 112 countries. There's Kevin Lohman's squirrel leaping at a juvenile owl ('Are You Kidding Me'), Tanner Mansell's Borneo orangutan ('Spicy Orangutan'), Lee Frost's damselfly that appears to wave through a nibbled leaf ('Nature's Window'), and Diego Perez's Peruvian mantis striking what can only be described as a pose ('Sexy Mantis'). Winners are announced on December 8, and the public can vote for the Sterna People's Choice Award. The competition donates 10% of its profits to the Born Free Foundation — humour in service of conservation.