Clumsy yet adorable, animals can provide the perfect comic relief moments we all need sometimes. These images are all from the finalists of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021 which had entries from both amateur and professional photographers from all over the world. From an opera-singing baboon and a ninja raccoon to an acrobatic fish and a smiling frog, take a look at these hilarious animal photos that show the funny side of nature.

This owl looks pretty unamused at being disturbed by the camera.

Two gophers appear to be trying out a trust fall. We wonder how it ended...

This funny shot taken in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula shows two adorable brown bear cubs squaring up for a play fight after crossing a small stream. The furry duo look as if they’re trying out some new dance moves. 

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A family of raccoons seem pretty cosy all cuddled up in this tree, with just their furry heads peeping out.

Captured by Lea Scaddan, this kangaroo dramatically gesturing up to the sky should earn him a part in a Shakespeare play.

Swimming in the Dutch Caribbean, a boxfish shows off its perfect pout.

A young raccoon has had a sudden growth spurt and can no longer fit inside its favourite tree.

A prairie dog refuses to back down after a near-miss encounter with this bald eagle. Whether brave or stupid, the prairie dog seemed to really spook the bird when it jumped up, allowing a quick escape.

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A gosling gives in to its curiosity and pokes its head out from its hiding place to watch the photographer nearby.

A group of monkeys were playing around together, jumping from branch to branch, then a giraffe happened to walk by and this lucky shot was taken.

A baboon in the Audi Arabian mountains looks like it’s belting out a tune ready to take the stage in this hilarious shot by Clemence Guinard.

In another image by Andy Parkinson, a small brown bear hilariously seems to use his mother as a scratching post or perhaps to get a better view of the wildlife nearby.

A sneaky raccoon peeks through a house window while trying to break in to steal food.

This wild horse beautifully poses for the photographer in this funny image.

A green chameleon puts on a mean face and looks ready for a fight.

This monkey seems to either really need to scratch its nose or really like this tree.

An animal known for being majestic and graceful, this bald eagle tried and failed to snap off a branch to help make a nest and got a nasty surprise, creating this brilliant image.

Captured by Chu Han Lin, a mudskipper fish shows off how high it can jump while his two fishy friends watch in awe and amazement.

A brown pelican pictured here in Louisiana, USA perfectly sums up how the past year has felt, a time many of us want to forget. 

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A Gentoo penguin gives its friend directions to the nearest swimming hole.

This grizzly bear looks as if it’s in the middle of an intense dance routine, maybe flamenco dancing?

The perfect reaction shot, a mother otter grabs its baby in what looks like an impromptu swimming lesson, which the small otter doesn’t seem too happy about.

A trio of raccoon cubs seem to be telling secrets to each other.

This tiger may look like it’s easily carrying a heavy log, but she’s really just giving her face a good scratch.

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On a windy day in Scotland, this poor pigeon gets a faceful.

This funny shot of a male velvet monkey is pretty self-explanatory!

Two kangaroos are locked in a tense standoff with one just missing a swift kick in the stomach.

We wish we knew what joke tickled this smiling seal.

Hiding from the camera, this brown bear thinks it is well camouflaged behind the tree.

This ruby-crowned kinglet clearly wasn’t in the mood for a picture, annoyed yet adorable all fluffed up.

A polar bear and its mother share a sweet moment in the icy waters of the Arctic while their fellow furry friend gives the camera a nice wave.

This beautiful closeup shows a cheerful red damselfly. With its big red eyes, yellowish body and almost happy expression, the bug looks like it’s saying hello.

Captured by Roland Kranitz, this adorable shot of a gopher looks like it’s playing a tune with a blade of grass.

A young langur monkey dances to the beat of its own drum.

This sweet image shows a kodiak brown bear making itself comfortable, ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.

This dragonfly certainly isn’t camera shy as it smiles into the lens while sitting on a flower.

After expertly climbing from a plant to a flower, a green frog in Indonesia enjoys his triumph.

These three penguins seem very in sync as they use the beach as their catwalk.

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Although this golden monkey looks pretty uncomfortable sitting on this branch, it’s actually showing its aggressive side. Ken Jensen captured this winning shot and we think it's well deserved.