Beyond Science

Helping Our Planet With Comedy

These funny animals may likely provide a welcomed change of pace and tone.

Aside from providing us, quite literally, with the essentials we need to live, nature can provide us with much more, including both worry and laughter.

Eco-anxiety, the fear brought by observing the decline of our planet and the changes it is suffering from climate change, is real, and it is here to stay. It is difficult to keep optimistic when the news and other media we consume seem so dire.

Easier ways to digest pessimistic news?

Are these bad news easier to digest when delivered through comedy? Scientists are still debating about it. However, some research indicates humour does help. In contrast, a different study found that ending on a pessimistic note was more likely to get people to act.

Recently, the cohort of late-night shows banded together for “climate night”.

The idea behind climate night? No matter which channel you tuned in at night, you would be getting some climate change awareness. But at least, you’d also get some laughs out of it!

Other comedy shows, like Last Week Tonight, regularly approach scientific subjects from sugar to duck stamps. They get to inform the audience while being entertaining. And often, even get to raise money for the causes they talk about.

Their duck stamp episode, for example, auctioned paintings worth $ 99.723, and the proceeds raised went to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Forget your worries with funny pics!

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards started in 2015; since then, they have been a fountain of pictures to chuckle and laugh at. To connect with nature in a different way.

The organization also donates 10% of the money they raise. This year, for example, they are working with an organization called Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program in Borneo. They protect orangutan environments and work to raise awareness of the importance of preserving orangutans and their environment.

The core approach behind The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is to be positive and to try and engage people through positive and uplifting messages. Whether through funny pictures or children’s books.

Without further ado, here are the winners of this year’s awards:

Ouch! by Ken Jensen

“A golden silk monkey in Yunnan China — this is actually a show of aggression however in the position that the monkey is in it looks quite painful!”

I guess summer’s over by John Speirs

“I was taking pics of pigeons in flight when this leaf landed on the bird’s face.”

Ninja Prairie Dog! by Arthur Trevino

“When this Bald Eagle missed on its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs Goliath story!”

Time for school by Chee Kee Teo

“A smooth-coated otter “bit” its baby otter to bring it back to and fro for swimming lesson.”

The Joy of a Mud Bath by Vicki Jauron

“An elephant expresses his joy in taking a mud bath against the dead trees on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on a hot afternoon.”

Highly Commended Winners

Let’s dance by Andy Parkinson

“Two Kamchatka bear cubs square up for a celebratory play fight having successfully navigated a raging torrent (small stream!)”

See who jumps high by Chu Han Lin

- Mudskipper, Taiwan -

Majestic and Graceful Bald Eagle by David Eppley

“Bald Eagles will use the same nest for years, even decades, adding new material to it at the beginning and throughout the nesting season. Normally, they are highly skilled at snapping branches off of trees while in flight. Possibly tired from working nonstop all morning on a new nest, this particular Bald Eagle wasn’t showing its best form. Yes, sometimes they miss. Although this looks painful, and it might very well be, the eagle recovers with just a few sweeping wing strokes, and choses to rest a bit before making another lumber run.”

The Green Stylist by Gurumoorthy K

- Indian chameleon, Western Ghats -

Treehugger by Jakub Hodan

“This Proboscis monkey could be just scratching its nose on the rough bark, or it could be kissing it. Trees play a big role in the lives of monkeys. Who are we to judge…”

Missed by Lea Scaddan

“Two Western Grey Kangaroos were fighting and one missed kicking him in the stomach.”

Peekaboo by Pal Marchhart

“A young bear descending from a tree looks like he/she is playing hide and seek.”

I got you by Roland Kranitz

“I spent my days in my usual “gopher place” and yet again, these funny little animals haven’t belied their true nature.”

Titles and descriptions as provided by the photographer. The photographs’ copyright belongs to the authors mentioned in the title of each entry and have been made available courtesy of Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2021.

Thank you.

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