http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/worlds-funniest-most-hilarious-animal-photos-2017-12433300.php
The world's funniest and cutest animal photos from 2017
Published 9:11 am, Friday, December 15, 2017
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has announced this year's winners and they are unbelievable hilarious.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards has announced this year's winners and they are unbelievable hilarious.
Photo by: Andrea Zampatti
Location: Monticelli Brusati, Italy
Details: A baby dormouse seems to be laughing on a yarrow flower
Description: I was hiking on a mountain close to my hometown when I heard a strange squeaking from the woods and...I found this cute baby dormouse on the top of a yarrow flower! I took just one shot and...amazed, I saw this picture on the monitor of my camera!
lessPhoto by: Andrea Zampatti
Location: Monticelli Brusati, Italy
Details: A baby dormouse seems to be laughing on a yarrow flower
Description: I was hiking on a mountain close to my hometown when I heard a strange
... morePhoto by: Arkaprava Ghosh
Location: West Bengal, India
Details: A red ghost crab seen adjusting and cleaning one of its eyes at the Frazergunj beach in West Bengal, India.
Description: The red ghost crabs are a treat to the eyes. When a large number of these crabs come out of their burrows, the section of the beach appears bright red. The eyes of the ghost crabs are supported on stalks and give them a wide field of vision. This helps them to spot the predators very quickly and vanish into their burrows in the sandy beaches. This individual was cleaning sand from its eyes after emerging from the burrow.
lessPhoto by: Arkaprava Ghosh
Location: West Bengal, India
Details: A red ghost crab seen adjusting and cleaning one of its eyes at the Frazergunj beach in West Bengal, India.
Description: The red ghost crabs are a
... morePhoto by: Brian Valente
Location: San Diego, California
Description: A seal looks to be getting a good laugh about something Animal: Harbor seal.
Photo by: Brian Valente
Location: San Diego, California
Description: A seal looks to be getting a good laugh about something Animal: Harbor seal.
Photo by: Andrey Giljov
Location: Australia
Description: Wild red kangaroos are most active in the early morning. And the morning is the best time for the martial art training! Of course, this was not a training kangaroo male, but a funny posture during scratching. At least kangaroos want us to think so.
lessPhoto by: Andrey Giljov
Location: Australia
Description: Wild red kangaroos are most active in the early morning. And the morning is the best time for the martial art training! Of course, this was not a training
... morePhoto by: Aster Leung
Location: Hong Kong
Description: Excuse me, where should I go?
Photo by: Aster Leung
Location: Hong Kong
Description: Excuse me, where should I go?
Photo by: Barb D'Arpino
Location: Florida
Description: Female Burrowing Owl looking exhausted as four of her owlets vie for her attention.
Photo by: Barb D'Arpino
Location: Florida
Description: Female Burrowing Owl looking exhausted as four of her owlets vie for her attention.
Photo by: Budkov Denis
Location: Russia
Description: Kamchatka brown bear
Photo by: Budkov Denis
Location: Russia
Description: Kamchatka brown bear
Photo by: Douglas Croft
Location: San Jose, California
Description: Golf is a frustrating game and if you've ever picked up a golf club, you've wanted to do this. I figured she must have three-putted the hole and this was pay back.
lessPhoto by: Douglas Croft
Location: San Jose, California
Description: Golf is a frustrating game and if you've ever picked up a golf club, you've wanted to do this. I figured she must have three-putted the hole
... morePhoto by: Daisy Gilardini
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Description: Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) mother with exiting a day den, cub trying to catch a ride on mama's bum.
Photo by: Daisy Gilardini
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Description: Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) mother with exiting a day den, cub trying to catch a ride on mama's bum.
Photo by: Chris Martin
Location: Alberta, Canada
Description: A black bear (Ursus americanus) reaches back to rub his back against a small tree. But it sure looks like a move stolen from a 70's dance floor at the height of the disco craze!
lessPhoto by: Chris Martin
Location: Alberta, Canada
Description: A black bear (Ursus americanus) reaches back to rub his back against a small tree. But it sure looks like a move stolen from a 70's dance floor at
... morePhoto by: Daniel Trim Hitchin
Location: Krabi, Thailand
Description: Two mudskippers fight over territory on tidal mudflats. With both posturing with their mouth's open it almost looks as though they are singing a power duet!
lessPhoto by: Daniel Trim Hitchin
Location: Krabi, Thailand
Description: Two mudskippers fight over territory on tidal mudflats. With both posturing with their mouth's open it almost looks as though they are singing
... morePhoto by: Carl Henry
Location: South Georgia Island
Description: Three king penguins approach the only church on South Georgia Island appearing to be headed for services.
Photo by: Carl Henry
Location: South Georgia Island
Description: Three king penguins approach the only church on South Georgia Island appearing to be headed for services.
Photo by: Eugene Kitsios
Location: Bahamas
Description: During university courses with the Bimini Biological Field Station, students learn about the importance of mangroves. These shrubs provide shelter and nursery habitat for many marine species, including this juvenile lemon shark. Whenever we arrive at the refuge site we walk through a passage-way and once we have reached the mangrove-fringed inlet at the end, we form a circle with the students. We then stand still and use chum to attract the baby sharks for the students to experience these beautiful animals up close and personal. For many, this is an unforgettable experience and the importance of these unique ecosystems is well remembered. This little shark couldn't help but smile in front of my camera. Perhaps it was aware that it were future marine conservationists that came for a visit.
lessPhoto by: Eugene Kitsios
Location: Bahamas
Description: During university courses with the Bimini Biological Field Station, students learn about the importance of mangroves. These shrubs provide shelter and
... morePhoto by: Esa Ringbom
Location: Finland
Description: Raven tease the bear
Photo by: Esa Ringbom
Location: Finland
Description: Raven tease the bear
Photo by: Graeme Guy
Location: Kenya
Description: Masai Mara airstrip with a plane landing 'below' giraffe height.
Photo by: Graeme Guy
Location: Kenya
Description: Masai Mara airstrip with a plane landing 'below' giraffe height.
Photo by: Gill Merritt
Location: Tanzania
Description: For those old enough to remember the Carry On films, this reminded of matron!
Photo by: Gill Merritt
Location: Tanzania
Description: For those old enough to remember the Carry On films, this reminded of matron!
Photo by: George Cathcart
Location: San Simeon
Description: Young elephant seal reacts to his friend's revelation that he voted for Brexit. (Elephant seals are marine mammals, but they are hardly ever photographed underwater, and they spend inordinate amounts of time on the beach, to mate, to give birth and to just lie around. So I'm entering this in Creatures of the Land, because that's where it was when I photographed it.
lessPhoto by: George Cathcart
Location: San Simeon
Description: Young elephant seal reacts to his friend's revelation that he voted for Brexit. (Elephant seals are marine mammals, but they are hardly ever
... morePhoto by: Jasmine Vink
Location: Madagascar
Description: Chameleons are peculiar animals. When they reach the end of a branch they wont stop like most animals. They will extend their bodies and wave their arms in search of another branch to grab onto.
lessPhoto by: Jasmine Vink
Location: Madagascar
Description: Chameleons are peculiar animals. When they reach the end of a branch they wont stop like most animals. They will extend their bodies and wave their arms in
... morePhoto by: Hannele Kaihola
Location: Finland
Description: The mother bear and the cub are playing.
Photo by: Hannele Kaihola
Location: Finland
Description: The mother bear and the cub are playing.
Photo by: Josef Friedhuber
Location: Rwanda
Description: Mountain Gorilla is making grimaces, he came out of the bush after the rain.
Photo by: Josef Friedhuber
Location: Rwanda
Description: Mountain Gorilla is making grimaces, he came out of the bush after the rain.
Photo by: Johnny Kaapa
Location: Gothenburg
Description: What is he doing? People on my page came up with quite a variety of answers. Me, I just saw a squirrel scratching himself.
Photo by: Johnny Kaapa
Location: Gothenburg
Description: What is he doing? People on my page came up with quite a variety of answers. Me, I just saw a squirrel scratching himself.
Photo by: John Threlfall
Location: Preston, United Kingdom
Description: A bunch of Widgeon flew past me which I photographed, only when I got home did I realise one had flown exactly in front of a high airline plane!
lessPhoto by: John Threlfall
Location: Preston, United Kingdom
Description: A bunch of Widgeon flew past me which I photographed, only when I got home did I realise one had flown exactly in front of a high airline
... morePhoto by: Linda Oliver Yamanto
Location: Nakano, Japan
Description: A visit to the hot spring in the Jigokudani Monkey Park near Nakano, where Japanese Macaques, or Snow Monkeys, frequent, is a popular destination for many visitors to Japan. Unfortunately while I was there a few photographers persisted in crowding the space around some animals and I would like to think that this is a message from the Macaque to them. While it is fun to put an anthropomorphic spin on this photograph, I think this monkey just had an injured finger.
lessPhoto by: Linda Oliver Yamanto
Location: Nakano, Japan
Description: A visit to the hot spring in the Jigokudani Monkey Park near Nakano, where Japanese Macaques, or Snow Monkeys, frequent, is a popular
... morePhoto by: Katy Laveck
Location: Indonesia
Description: Celebes Macaques are a critically endangered primate found only on the northern region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tangkoko Nature Reserve is an important habitat for this species and others. These two monkeys broke away from their group to 'test drive' a motorbike parked near the entrance to the reserve.
lessPhoto by: Katy Laveck
Location: Indonesia
Description: Celebes Macaques are a critically endangered primate found only on the northern region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tangkoko Nature Reserve is an important
... morePhoto by: Jean-Jacques Alcalay
Location: Kenya
Description: Blue wildebeest standing on a mound
Photo by: Jean-Jacques Alcalay
Location: Kenya
Description: Blue wildebeest standing on a mound
Photo by: John Sheridan
Location: Ireland
Description: Fox Cubs playing in Co Meath Ireland.
Photo by: John Sheridan
Location: Ireland
Description: Fox Cubs playing in Co Meath Ireland.
Photo by: Melissa Usrey
Location: Salton Sea, California
Photo by: Melissa Usrey
Location: Salton Sea, California
Photo by: Melissa Nolan
Location: Finland
Description: Mummy Brown Bear just wants some peace and quiet.
Photo by: Melissa Nolan
Location: Finland
Description: Mummy Brown Bear just wants some peace and quiet.
Photo by: Miquel Angel Artus Illana
Location: Falkland Islands
Description: two king penguins are standing firm while another, with his expression seems to be giving them orders.
Photo by: Miquel Angel Artus Illana
Location: Falkland Islands
Description: two king penguins are standing firm while another, with his expression seems to be giving them orders.
Photo by: Penny Palmer
Location: Elkhorn Slough, California
Description: Early morning stretch from a sleepy sea otter.
Photo by: Penny Palmer
Location: Elkhorn Slough, California
Description: Early morning stretch from a sleepy sea otter.
Photo by: Monique Joris
Location: Antarctica
Description: This photo was taken on an expedition to Antarctica in Januari 2017 on Cuverville Island. A large breeding colony of Gentoo penguins live on this island. In the picture you can see them grooming, but it looks like they all have no head.
lessPhoto by: Monique Joris
Location: Antarctica
Description: This photo was taken on an expedition to Antarctica in Januari 2017 on Cuverville Island. A large breeding colony of Gentoo penguins live on this island.
... morePhoto by: Paulette Struckman
Location: Mkhuze Park, South Africa
Description: Gnu and shadow at the watering hole at the hide in Mkhuze park.
Photo by: Paulette Struckman
Location: Mkhuze Park, South Africa
Description: Gnu and shadow at the watering hole at the hide in Mkhuze park.
Photo by: Olivier Colle Bredene
Location: Belgium
Description: This wild rabbit is collecting nesting material. I was watching closely as my daughter suddenly called out to this rabbit. What a great answer.
Photo by: Olivier Colle Bredene
Location: Belgium
Description: This wild rabbit is collecting nesting material. I was watching closely as my daughter suddenly called out to this rabbit. What a great answer.
Photo by: Nadav Bagim
Location: Israel
Caption: A tiny chameleon who didn't quite understand how its camouflage mechanism suppose to work.
Photo by: Nadav Bagim
Location: Israel
Caption: A tiny chameleon who didn't quite understand how its camouflage mechanism suppose to work.
Photo by: Rosie Galitz
Location: South Georgia Island
Caption: Marvelous musical act by three joyful elephant seals in South Georgia Island.
Photo by: Rosie Galitz
Location: South Georgia Island
Caption: Marvelous musical act by three joyful elephant seals in South Georgia Island.
Photo by: Tina Stehr
Location: South Africa
Description: While in Tembe Elephant Park helping track endangerd species (including the wild dogs) we came across this pack playing and lounging on this sand road. Apparently there was a pretty good joke told!
lessPhoto by: Tina Stehr
Location: South Africa
Description: While in Tembe Elephant Park helping track endangerd species (including the wild dogs) we came across this pack playing and lounging on this sand road.
... morePhoto by: Troy Mayne
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Description: A Green Turtle slapping a Napoleon Maori Wrasse
Photo by: Troy Mayne
Location: Great Barrier Reef
Description: A Green Turtle slapping a Napoleon Maori Wrasse
Photo by: Tanakit Suwanyangyaun
Location: Malaysia
Description: a fish at it's home smiling to the camera.
Bangkok Thailand Title: Say Cheese ! Caption: Say Cheese ! Description: a fish at it's home smiling to the camera. Animal: Some tiny fish Location of shot: Sipadan, Malaysia
lessPhoto by: Tanakit Suwanyangyaun
Location: Malaysia
Description: a fish at it's home smiling to the camera.
Bangkok Thailand Title: Say Cheese ! Caption: Say Cheese ! Description: a fish at it's home smiling to
... morePhoto by: Tibor Kercz
Location: Hungary
Description: Little owl nestlings
Photo by: Tibor Kercz
Location: Hungary
Description: Little owl nestlings
Photo by: Bence Mate
Location: Romania
Description: The bears tried to hide in the bush for a quick tryst, but they were surely caught in the act.
Photo by: Bence Mate
Location: Romania
Description: The bears tried to hide in the bush for a quick tryst, but they were surely caught in the act.
A pair of bears wrestling in the night, a hare with a mouth full of grass, and a sea turtle smacking a fish in the face were just some of the finalists for the 2017 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
The awards, which were partially sponsored by the Born Free Foundation, features stunning animal photographs from places like Thailand, Belgium, and Canada.
"The finalists this year were of an incredible standard - the quality of the photography, along with the hilarious results of the images were just fantastic. It was a difficult job for all the judges to pick a winner, and certainly this was a year where any number of images could have won," Tom Sullam, chair of the judges, told Chron.com Friday morning.
WHAT THE HECK: Woman caught on video stealing two giant, $400 nutcracker statues from Houston-area home
One of Sullam's favorite photos was by Tibor Kercz and features a small owl struggling to join two others on a branch.
"Along with the fox on the golf course and the seals 'WTF',' I enjoyed these three immensely, and they make me smile every time I see them," Sullam said.
The cuteness is unbearable!
Media: SeventeenVisit Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards to see which photos won.
Swipe through the gallery to see all the hilarious finalists.
Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso. If you also like surreal GIFs and Polaroids, go here and here.
