20 hilarious pics of animals playing around in the wild

Nature documentaries usually focus on the majestic side of the animal kingdom: the thrill of the hunt, the beauty of flight, or the grandeur of migration. But anyone who has spent time observing animals knows there is another, musch goofier, side to the wild.

Since 2015, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, created by photographers and conservationists Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, have been dedicated to capturing those unscripted, laugh-out-loud moments. With a mission to entertain while raising awareness about wildlife conservation, the competition celebrates the clumsy, expressive, and downright hilarious side of nature.

Here is a look back at 20 of the most amusing entries from the 2019 contest that prove animals are just like us, only furrier and much funnier.

OVERALL WINNER, CREATURES OF THE LAND WINNER: "Grab Life By the..."

A young lion playing with an older animalComedy Wildlife Photography

You don't think about how hard it would be to be the parent of a small, curious creature with massive, sharp claws. Let's all take a moment to be grateful that even though it's very hard to have a human baby, they don't have super sharp claws. That would make things ten times worse.

CREATURES IN THE AIR WINNER: "Family Disagreement"

A colorful bird appears to be yelling at it a friendComedy Wildlife Photography

"I did not pluck a feather out your head! I did not pluck a feather out of his head. Mom! Mom! He's lying! I didn't do it!"

"Honestly, Stuart, you're just making a fool of yourself. Get it together, man."

PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER, CREATURES UNDER THE WATER WINNER: "Oh My"

An otter appears like it's holding its face in shockComedy Wildlife Photography

I think if I were an otter, I too would constantly clutch my face in disbelief. "I can't possibly be this cute, can I? Cute nose, fuzzy head, tiny little eyes? That can't be! Oh, but it is! I really am this adorable! I am! I am!"

Make sure you head to the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website to see the rest of the finalists!

"Waltz Gone Wrong"

Two young foxes playing in the wildComedy Wildlife Photography

Have you seen those videos of foxes diving headfirst into the snow to catch prey? It's hilarious and fascinating, and I think this fox forgot that there was no snow. His friend is really trying to help him not hurt himself, but his buddy insists on being dumb. Oh, foxes!

"Otter Tickle Fight"

Two otters appear to be laughing together in the waterComedy Wildlife Photography

"And then Carol was like, 'You otter come over for dinner sometime!' Get it? Get it? Man, Carol's hilarious. So I went over for dinner and she had like, this whole seafood spread. Crabs, clams, mussels...the whole shebang. Anyway, I think I'm going to marry her."

"He's Right Behind Me, Isn't He?"

A fish looks like it's afraid of the shark behind itComedy Wildlife Photography

Just think about how much poise it took for this photographer to take this photo. Not only is the shark sneaking up on this poor fish, but there's a person behind that camera! Presumably, the photographer escaped unscathed, since he was able to enter this photo in the contest.

"Indecent Proposal"

A bird appears to be ignoring their partnerComedy Wildlife Photography

It's clearly not just human women who have to put up with the incessant nagging conversation from dudes we have no interest in talking to. See the look on that bird's face? Staring straight out just willing him to go away? Tell me you haven't made that face. Yeah, that's what I thought.

"Who Would Like a Peanut?"

A squirrel looks like it's trapped in a treeComedy Wildlife Photography

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?" No one really knows this, but squirrels are generally huge Shakespeare fans. They saw him put up a play in Europe centuries ago and have just carried that love for his words through generations and generations of squirrels.

"Monday Morning Blues"

A bear holds hand over face, making it appear like it's exhaustedComedy Wildlife Photography

I relate to this bear hard. Anyone who has had to get up and go to work after a long weekend knows this feeling. Sometimes, you just don't want to deal with anything. Sometimes, you just want to lie on the ground, cover your face with your hands, and nap for a little while longer.

"Inconspicuous"

A penguin looks like its trying to appear inconspicuousComedy Wildlife Photography

I love this photo so much. Because not only is it a picture of a penguin farting, but it's a picture of a penguin who is clearly trying to hide the fact that he's passing gas and play it off like he's doing absolutely nothing. He's just standing there twiddling his wings. He has no idea what that big bubble under his butt is.

"Squirrel Wishes"

A young squirrel smells a flowerComedy Wildlife Photography

There seems to be a whole genre of "Small rodents holding flowers" photos, and I am a sucker for every single one of them. I'm pretty sure this comes up when you look up "cute" in the dictionary. It's just so pure.

"Hello"

An insect appears to be smiling and waving at the cameraComedy Wildlife Photography

"Hi there! Welcome to my flower. So glad you could make it! It's a little cold and wet right now, but once the sun comes up we'll be in business. Help yourself to a dewdrop. They're especially fresh this morning."

"That's Hilarious, Steve"

An otter lies on its side apparently cracking up laughingComedy Wildlife Photography

"And then my friend Steve, the otter, told me that Carol said to him, 'You otter come over for dinner!' Get it? Get it? Because they're otters! So it's funny. Hey, where'd you go?"

"Caught in the Act"

Two monkeys caught procreatingComedy Wildlife Photography

These poor monkeys were just trying to get it on. Their kids were finally out of the tree, they had some peace and quiet, and then they were so rudely interrupted by a photographer. Although mom looks like she was kinda zoning out anyway.

"Laid Back"

A young chimp relaxes with its hands behind its headComedy Wildlife Photography

This little chimp is living the life! He's got it all figured out, and from the looks of him, he's still a tiny baby. He's just looking out at the jungle, thinking about all that milk he's going to drink later.

"Holly Jolly Snowy"

A snowy owl appears to be smiling Comedy Wildlife Photography

I bet that when you're a Snowy Owl and it finally snows, you are just so ecstatically happy. I mean, it's right there in your name. Look at her face! It's full of such pure joy.

"To Be or Not to Be"

A monkey holds finger to face as if it's lost in thoughtComedy Wildlife Photography

Like this little monkey, I, too, usually save my existential crises for bath time. There's something about the weightlessness of floating in the water that makes you question everything you know to be true about yourself and the world.

"Snarling Snappin' in the Slow Lane"

A turtle crossing the road under a 'slow' signComedy Wildlife Photography

Who's calling this snapping turtle slow? He's just "taking his time." On another note, I think turtles are probably the most prehistoric-looking creatures that still exist. If you really take the time to look at them, they're so crazy.

"Hide"

A polar bear lies on its back like it's trying to hideComedy Wildlife Photography

Imagine playing hide and seek on a block of ice as a polar bear. On one hand, there aren't too many places to hide. On the other hand, you're looking for white on white, and that's not easy.

"Dancing, Yeah"

A rodent strikes human-like poseComedy Wildlife Photography

I don't know if you knew this, but rodents love ABBA. Here is one getting down to "Dancing Queen." Because they're so small, they really feel the music down to their bones. Raise your hand if you would watch an all-rodent adaptation of Mamma Mia! Yeah, me too.

If you want to enter next year's competition, follow the link here to sign up for mailing list updates!

This article originally appeared five years ago.