They can be inadvertently witty, comically clumsy, hilariously ignorant, or plain hilarious. But do they realize it? Do animals in the outdoors have a sense of humor? Or are humans the only species that has such trait?
It’s an old debate, with many experts trying to define what constitutes “humor” and research in the field concluding that animals probably lack that particular sense. In which case, the funny side of animals is in the eye of the beholder — in this particular case, of the photographers lucky enough to be at the ‘right time, right place’ to capture the unwittingly amusing actions of wildlife across our planet.
And it’s from that rich source of material from around the world that the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, with their annual competition, has been bringing smiles to millions of people.
Funny animal photos are felt to be harmless yet retain a trace of the taboo: a conflict that stems from the knowledge that, as endearing and relatable as their behavior may appear to be, we will never truly understand what’s going on in their minds.
