Charlotte, a green sea turtle, was hit by a boat back in 2008. This left it with an affliction colloquially referred to as the “bubble butt,” a kind of floating syndrome that makes it impossible for a turtle to dive. Most sea turtles suffering from issues like this simply die at sea, since the condition leaves them stranded at the surface where they can’t forage, sleep, and avoid predators like sharks. But fate had other plans for Charlotte.
Charlotte didn’t end up as a shark’s lunch and didn’t starve to death floating helplessly in the ocean. Instead, it got rescued shortly after the boat accident and eventually found a home at Mystic Aquarium in Stonington, Connecticut, where it received professional care. That was the first time Charlotte got lucky. The second time came when a collaboration formed: Adia, a company specializing in 3D-printing solutions; Formlabs, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of 3D printers; and New Balance Athletic, a sportswear giant based in Boston. This team chose Charlotte as a technology showcase, which basically turned the turtle into an Oscar Pistorius of the sea—just without the criminal conviction.
Weights and diet
Sea turtles are marine reptiles, which means they don’t have gills like fish—they need air to breathe. The lungs also play a key role in their buoyancy regulation system, which allows them to rest for extended periods of time at the sea floor or float at a precisely chosen depth. A sea turtle can precisely choose the depth at which it achieves neutral buoyancy by inhaling the exactly right volume of air.
The photos feature a variety of animals striking amusing poses in the wild and spotlight the photographers' skills and ingenuity.
In September, 40 finalists were chosen out of 9,000 entries from 98 countries. A panel of judges chose the winning photos in categories highlighting mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and aquatic animals, as well as 10 "highly commended" photos and an overall winner. Fans of the contest also voted for their favorite image to win the People's Choice award.
The photography contest benefits the Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity that awards grants to environmental and wildlife conservation leaders.
Take a look at the funniest wildlife photos of the year. Photographers' captions have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Finalist: "Holding On for a Ride" by Alexander Fine
"After a nap, the mother brown bear wanted to go for a walk, but the cubs wanted a ride," Fine wrote.
Finalist: "Peekaboo" by Alexander Fine
Fine photographed a blenny fish peeking out from a hole in a coral reef.
Finalist: "Hello World" by Alexander Pansier
"It was hard to take this image because of the fast-moving ant, but with a little help from a flashlight, I was able to freeze the motion," Pansier wrote.
Finalist: "In Love" by Andrea Rosado
Rosado photographed two bears embracing in Sitka, Alaska.
Finalist: "England Cricket's Latest Secret Weapon" by Andy Rouse
"I took this photo of a dancing sifaka in Madagascar," Rouse wrote. "As it ran toward us, it created all sorts of funny shapes, but this one was the best. It looks to me like it is practicing its bowling action ready for an England call-up!"
Finalist: "Otter Guru" by Charles Janson
"In a kayak with my camera balanced precariously on the gunnel, I stayed very still while floating by this resting sea otter," Janson wrote. "It stayed relaxed (you can tell because it is still floating on its back) and kept on grooming its fur. With its peaceful face and upturned paws, it reminded me of a Guru meditating."
Finalist: "Saying My Prayers" by Christine Haines
"Otters hold their food with their paws, making it appear like they are praying," Haines wrote.
Finalist: "Monday Again" by Christopher Arnold
"I photographed this nutria directly from the canoe," Arnold wrote. "It was busy grooming itself."
Finalist: "Cold Shower" by Corentin Revel
"This doe got up on her hind legs to grab some leaves from the tree to eat, but when she got back up on all fours, she suddenly let go of the branch and took a cold shower on the head," Revel wrote.
Finalist: "The Pavarotti of Owls" by Fred Amico
"This area has always been a nesting place for burrowing owls, so I visit frequently," Amico wrote." When I saw this image on the computer, it just looked like this little owl was singing his heart out."
Finalist: "Smiley Elephant Seal" by Gabriel Rojo
"These multi-ton giants fight to keep their harem of females," Rojo wrote.
Finalist: "I Am Coming" by Inés Godínez
Godínez's photo shows razorbills watching as one of their peers attempts a wobbly landing.
Finalist: "Laughing Out Loud" by Ingo Hamann
"This newborn seal seems to be laughing at a good joke," Hamann wrote.
Finalist: "Where Do You Think You Are Going?" by Jörn Clausen
"This picture was taken in 2015 during my first visit to the Farne Islands in the UK," Clausen wrote. "The islands were full of puffins, kittiwakes, shags, guillemots, and razorbills, and I never before and never since have taken so many photos in such a short time."
Finalist: "Song of the Zeisel" by Kath Aggiss
Aggiss photographed a ground squirrel, also known as a zeisel, calling to its family that it had found food.
Finalist: "The Speed Skater" by Mark Meth-Cohn
Meth-Cohn photographed a Steller's sea eagle on ice off the coast of Rausu, Japan.
Finalist: "Gecko Fashion Model" by Michela Bordoli
"As we walked on the sands of the Namib Desert, a gecko suddenly appeared, emerging out of nowhere with a smile on its face," Bordoli wrote. "It positioned itself perfectly, posing for a portrait worthy of a National Geographic cover. It seemed to say: 'Take my picture, I'm ready for my cover!'"
Finalist: "Easy Fellas" by Philippe Ricordel
"'Hajime!' This is the term used by the referee in judo to invite opponents to start fighting," Ricordel wrote. "Here, the standing bear seems to be saying this to the other two, adopting the gesture that referees use when they say this word."
Finalist: "Wait … Which Zebra Is In Front?" by Sarosh Lodhi
"I was expecting them to interact, nuzzle, or maybe fight, but they coincidentally got aligned in a way that caused this beautiful optical illusion," Lodhi wrote of the zebras in the photo.
Finalist: "Nagging Is a Universal Concept" by Scott Frier
Frier took this photo on a safari in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
"I have this image printed and hung on a wall of my home, and everybody who sees it laughs at it," Frier wrote.
Finalist: "Parrotfish Likes To Be Washed" by Wim Bellemans
"I saw this parrotfish with two other fish cleaning him," Bellemans wrote. "The smile on his face shows that he really loves it."
Finalist: "Time to Cool Off" by Zikri Teo
"An Adelie penguin stands over its chick as it lays flat on the rock to cool off," Teo wrote. "Due to their high level of insulation, penguin chicks can sometimes overheat and lay on the rocks with their feet out to lower their body temperature."
Highly Commended: "I'll Tell You a Secret" by Jan Piecha
"A tiny raccoon is telling a secret to its mom while whispering in her ear," Piecha wrote.
Highly Commended: "Are You Kidding?" by Marti Phillips
Phillips photographed two cape fur seals having a laugh.
Highly Commended: "The Contemplative Chimpanzee" by Arvind Mohandas
Mohandas photographed a chimpanzee in Uganda who was "obviously contemplating an important issue."
Highly Commended: "Gang of Four" by Ralph Robinson
"On the penguin highway, these rockhoppers are moving into town, and this town ain't big enough for all of them!" Robinson wrote.
Highly Commended: "I'm Too Sexy for My Love" by Artur Stankiewicz
Stankiewicz wrote that it looked like the hippo "just got out of the hairdresser with a big smile on his face."
Highly Commended: "Mafia Boss" by Takashi Kubo
Kubo wrote that this flying squirrel looked like it was "sucking a cigar" like a mafia boss.
Highly Commended: "The Rock Star" by Sanjay Patil
"Here is a female lizard standing upright to escape the summer heat," Patil wrote.
Highly Commended: "You're Not My Mother" by Randy Herman
"This female red-bellied woodpecker had been investigating this screech owl nest for a couple of days — perhaps it was her nest last year?" Herman wrote. "This little owlet was definitely startled and didn't seem to know what to make of this intruder."
Highly Commended: "Alright Mate Back Off — This is My Bird" by Andy Rouse
"This image was taken in South Georgia," Rouse wrote. "It really does show a male king penguin trying to make a move on a female who has already paired up with her male. The body position and wing posture make the message clear — 'back off!'"
Rouse's image was also highly commended in the 2006 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.
Highly Commended: "Hide and Seek" by Leslie McLeod
"We were on safari in Kenya and happened upon this beautiful female who was looking for a mate," McLeod wrote. "A group of topi were also keeping a pretty close eye on her as she left messages for a potential partner on various trees. This shot makes me think that the cheetah is just about to shout out, 'Ready or not, here I come!'"
People's Choice category winner: "Shake Ruffle Rattle and Roll" by Tapani Linnanmäki
"In the picture, a white-tailed eagle is ruffling its feathers," Linnanmäki wrote.
Nikon Young Photographer category winner: "Awkward Smiley Frog" by Kingston Tam
"My goal for my images is to bring attention to our scaly or moist friends, showing that not only fluffy animals can be cute and beautiful," Tam said.
Nikon Junior Category Winner: "Smooching Owlets" by Sarthak Ranganadhan
"Our parents always find a way to embarrass us — I guess that's also true in the case of spotted owlets," Ranganadhan wrote. "It was truly a funny sight to see two owlets trying to get some privacy as their little offspring stood next to them with a grin and shut eyes."
Fish and Other Aquatic Animals category winner: "Unexpected Role Swap" by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk
"Every annoyed and overtired fish needs to destress by hunting for a bald eagle," Jakubczyk wrote.
Bird category winner: "Whiskered Tern Crash Landing" by Damyan Petkov
Petkov photographed a whiskered tern crash-landing on a rock in Bulgaria.
Reptile category winner: "Frog in a Balloon" by Eberhard Ehmke
"During a photo shoot at the pond, I discovered this frog with its head in a bubble," Ehmke wrote.
Insect category winner: "Mantis Flamenca" by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina
Molina lay down on the side of the road to take this photo of a Flemish mantis with its front legs in the air.
Overall winner: "Stuck Squirrel" by Milko Marchetti
Marchetti's photo shows a squirrel with its feet sticking out of a hole in a tree. It won first place in the Mammals category and the contest's grand prize.
"I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels in many situations over the years in Italy, but this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide," Marchetti said of the photo. "Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explodes with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!"
Correction: September 26, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misspelled the surname of the photographer who took the photo titled "Wait … Which Zebra Is In Front?" He's Sarosh Lodhi, not Sarosh Iodhi.
The winner of the contest, hosted by London's Natural History Museum, will be announced in February.
The finalists include photos of wolves, polar bears, langurs, and other animals in the wild.
The Natural History Museum in London hosts an annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, inviting wildlife and nature photographers from around the world to participate.
The competition celebrates the natural world's beauty while highlighting the challenges facing animals in the wild today.
Every year, a jury selects winners across multiple categories, including Animal Portraits, Under Water, and Urban Wildlife, while members of the public get to vote for a People's Choice Award winner.
This year, a panel of judges shortlisted 25 images from 59,228 entries for its People's Choice Award. Now, people worldwide can view these images and vote online for their favorite pictures until 29 January 2025.
"The People's Choice Award allows members of the public from across the globe to join the jury and vote for their winning image, inspiring everyone to connect with the natural world," Douglas Gurr, the director of the Natural History Museum, said in a statement.
The winning image and the four runners-up will be announced in February 2025 and displayed online on the website.
The top five People's Choice Award images will also be displayed on voting screens at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in South Kensington until 29 June 2025.
Here are the shortlisted images from this year's contest.
"Curious Connection" by Nora Milligan
Milligan was trekking through the Loango National Park forest in Gabon when she saw this chimpanzee.
Her group "heard the call of a chimp first, then the leaves around them started to rustle, and a group of chimpanzees appeared," the Natural History Museum wrote on its website.
"As she [Milligan] peered through her viewfinder, a large male paused and looked down at the group, craning its neck forward, and its eyes seemed to widen as if to get a better look," the museum added.
"Edge of Night" by Jess Findlay
Photographer Jess Findlay spent several nights observing an owl's behavior near Vancouver, Canada, to plan this shot.
The museum described how he used an invisible beam to trigger a flash when the bird left the barn, while a slow shutter speed captured the "ambient light cast on the clouds and barn."
"It was a complicated setup but, to Jess's amazement, it worked the first time," the museum wrote.
"No Access" by Ian Wood
Locals in St Leonards-on-Sea in England had been leaving out food scraps for foxes, "but Ian [Wood] noticed that badgers from a nearby sett were also coming to forage," wrote the museum.
"After seeing a badger walking along the pavement by this wall late one night, he decided to photograph it."
He relied on the glow of a lamppost to light the scene.
"Icy Repose" by Sue Flood
"Sue [Flood] watched this Weddell seal from aboard a rigid inflatable boat in Neko Harbour of the Antarctic Peninsula," read the museum caption.
"So as not to disturb its peaceful slumber, Sue used a long lens to record this serene portrait."
"Snuffling Sengi" by Piotr Naskrecko
Photographer Piotr Naskrecki watched this sengi for weeks at Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, and noticed it took the same path every day as it searched for food.
Since sengis are "extremely shy and skittish," the museum wrote, Naskrecki used a remote camera to capture this image.
"Whiteout" by Michel d'Oultremont
The Natural History Museum wrote that Michel d'Oultremont had hoped for years to take a photo of a stoat camouflaged in the snow — eventually, he got the opportunity in his home country of Belgium.
"He lay in the snow with a white camouflage net covering all but his lens," the museum wrote. "This curious stoat came out of its snowy hole and sat up from time to time, observing its territory just before setting off to hunt."
"Earth and Sky" by Francisco Negroni
Photographer Francisco Negroni regularly visits the Villarrica Volcano, one of Chile's most active, in Pucón. Every visit is "quite an adventure — never knowing what the volcano might surprise you with," he told the museum.
In this photo, which was taken during a 10-day trip to the area, he captured the powerful moment the volcano's lava illuminated a stack of lenticular clouds.
"Wolf Pack" by Arvind Ramamurthy
Arvind Ramamurthy was taking photos of a wolf pack playing in fields in Bhigwan, India, when "one of them came and sat down at the edge of the agricultural crop, and one by one, four others joined it. They paused for a few seconds before they ran off again, playing and chasing one another." the museum's caption read.
"Scanning the Realm" by Aaron Baggenstos
The museum touted this image by Aaron Baggenstos as "a symbol of hope," showcasing how wild animals and humans — in this case, gauchos, or sheep farmers — can co-exist. It was taken in the Torres del Paine National Park, which has promoted ecotourism in the region.
"The gauchos view pumas more positively because they're attracting tourists, which is good for income," the museum wrote.
Meanwhile, the farmers' sheepdogs scare pumas away, forcing them to prey on wild animals, rather than the sheep.
"There is hope that humans and pumas can live alongside one another," the museum wrote.
"Togetherness" by Ivan Ivanek
Red-shanked douc langurs — critically endangered primates only found in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia — are known for their red "stockings."
Photographer Ivan Ivanek found a small group of the monkeys after surveying the area for several days.
Then, one evening, "he saw these two mating. Compared to other species of monkey he'd seen mating, it was an unexpectedly gradual and graceful affair!" wrote the museum.
"The Arrival" by Brad Leue
Leue was in a helicopter when he witnessed a striking scene: floodwaters surging towards Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, Australia's largest inland lake, against a backdrop of a dust storm and rain.
The floodwaters had traveled over 1,600 miles from Queensland toward South Australia.
"Timing was imperative to photograph this once-in-a-decade natural event," the caption read.
"Annoying Neighbour" by Bence Máté
Little owls and European rollers come into contact with each other at Kiskunság National Park in Hungary because their nesting areas and food sources are similar.
Máté spent 27 days watching from a hide to capture this interaction.
"During the short mating season, the male roller makes a sport of annoying other birds that stray into its breeding area. It makes a surprise ambush, flying at full speed behind them," the museum wrote, adding, "The little owl seemed nonplussed by the spectacle."
"Fallen from the Sky" by Carlo D'Aurizio
When D'Aurizio visited the San Bartolomeo Valley in the Majella National Park in Italy — where he's been many times — he thought he'd see butterflies and dragonflies.
What he didn't expect, though, was what the museum called "a sad collage of dead insects calmly floating in the water."
"To this day, Carlo has no explanation of why the insects died," its caption read.
"Aspen Shadows" by Devon Pradhuman
Pradhuman watched a pack of wolves on the prowl for something to eat in Yellowstone National Park. Seeing them head for the aspens, he thought it would make a striking image.
"The wolves walked right past these trees and then continued to follow the tree line, eventually disappearing over the hillside," the Natural History Museum wrote.
"A Good Scratch" by Mark Williams
Williams captured this image of a beluga whale rubbing its body on a river bottom along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. It was taken in an inlet, where the waters are shallow and belugas gather to exfoliate their skin, hide from predators, and socialize with each other, according to the museum.
"Nicknamed 'the canaries of the sea,' they produce a series of chirps, clicks, whistles, and squeals that Mark found otherworldly," the museum wrote.
"Meeting in the Marsh" by Michael Forsberg
Forsberg, a biologist, approached a whopping crane in Louisiana and moved with "cat-like quickness" to check the bird's health, quickly replacing a faulty transmitter that helps scientists keep track of the birds, per the Natural History Museum.
"This experimental population was reintroduced in Bayou Country in 2011. In the 1940s there were roughly 20 whooping cranes in the region. Since then, numbers have climbed to over 800," the museum wrote.
"Sneak Attack" by Erlend Haarberg
"In the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, a walrus carcass had attracted a female polar bear and her two cubs," wrote the museum.
"But one of the cubs was more interested in playing in the water than eating. The cub was having fun diving under the water and resurfacing, playing with the seaweed and kelp."
Haarberg watched the bear cub attempt to ambush a northern fulmar several times, without success.
"Slap Shot" by Savannah Rose
Rose captured a beaver's tail smack after years of attempts. She finally found success in a pond in Jackson, Wyoming.
"As she approached the shoreline, a beaver cautiously cruised by after emerging from its lodge," the museum wrote in its caption, adding, "It cocked its tail up and brought it down with a resounding crack."
The tail smacks are a way for the creatures to warn their family members about a newcomer to the area, the museum wrote.
"The Brave Gecko" by Willie Burger van Schalkwyk
In this photo, Willie Burger van Schalkwyk captured a brave giant ground gecko taking on a southern pale chanting goshawk that was attacking it in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa.
"Unfortunately, there was no hope of survival, but Willie was impressed by the gecko's bravery," the Natural History Museum wrote.
"Forest of Dreams" by Samuel Bloch
"Northern giant petrels are large seabirds. They're used to flying above the waves for weeks without encountering land," the Natural History Museum wrote in its caption of the photo.
"Samuel [Bloch] was surprised to find this seabird in such a woody environment. Like many other seabirds, it breeds on islands where there are fewer predators."
To avoid disturbing the bird, the photographer clicked this image swiftly from afar.
"Spiked" by David Northall
This photograph shows the moment a honey badger — covered in blood and quills, but undeterred — returned to finish off its prey, a Cape porcupine, in Botswana.
"Honey badgers are famously ferocious," reads the caption.
In the end, the honey badger won the battle, dragging the porcupine to its den, the museum wrote.
"Drifting Dinner" by Noam Kortler
Kortler was on a night dive near Komodo Island in Indonesia when he saw a decorator crab on top of a sea squirt.
"The sea squirt provided the crab the perfect stage to feed on drifting plankton," the museum wrote in its caption.
Kortler used flash photography, creating the effect of spotlighting the crab.
"Concert in the Forest" by Vincent Premel
Premel captured a Surinam golden-eyed tree frog puffing out its cheeks as it prepared to call for a mate in French Guiana's first rains.
"The call of the Surinam golden-eyed tree frog is so powerful it can be heard hundreds of meters away," the museum wrote.
"Evening Song" by Christian Brinkmann
Brinkmann captured this striking image of a songbird against fairground lights in Münster, Germany.
"During a popular fair in Münster called the Send, an interesting atmosphere arose behind the castle," the museum wrote. "The evening mood was gentle, and Christian [Brinkmann] had singing birds on one side and party music on the other.
"In front of the fairground lights, this Eurasian blackbird posed for its song."
"Unsold" by Jose Fragozo
Farmers in the Somali Region capture cheetah cubs, accusing them of harming their livestock, and sell them to traffickers. If the traffickers are unable to sell them, the cheetahs are killed, and their parts are sold for Chinese bone wine and other products.
This cheetah cub "was captured from her home plains" and was then "transported for several days on the back of a camel to the northern coast of Somaliland," the museum wrote.
"After hissing at the camera, the cub started chirping, calling out for its mother," it added.