Wildlife having a wild old time

WATCH the birdie...the gorillas, the lions - even the mudskippers.

- By Callum Hoare

For all these funny photos are leading the pack in the annual Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.

The worldwide free-to-enter contest focuses on the lighter side of wildlife photography as it promotes the conservation of species and habitats through humour.

Award organisers have released some of the best of more than 1,000 snaps already received to hopefully inspire other professional and amateur photographers to send in their entries by the closing date of June 30.