OtherCalmingGlobal3 Oct 20261 min read

Funny wildlife photos give us a reason to slow down

A giraffe with a leafy hairdo. A caiman apparently wearing a wig. The natural world has excellent comic timing.

The 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards finalists capture moments like these, bringing wildlife from around the world into view. More than 10,000 entries came from amateur and professional photographers.

There’s a purpose behind the laughter. The competition partners with Born Free to raise awareness of threats to wild animals and support conservation fundraising. Sharing a photograph is a starting point; protecting habitats still needs practical work.

And there’s something in your own act of looking. University of Derby researchers reported that people prompted to notice nature described feeling more mindful and able to slow down. Their research also linked everyday engagement with nature to actions that help protect it; it didn’t establish that viewing these photographs has the same effect.

Photography offers an invitation to pause, notice and share. Take a moment with these pictures. Then try looking a little longer at the birds, trees and small surprises near you. There’s plenty worth noticing.