A dancing gorilla has grabbed the spotlight by winning the 2025 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards held in Rwanda, showcasing the delightful unpredictability of animal behavior. The phrase 'Dance like no one is watching' could easily serve as the motto for this young gorilla, expertly photographed by British artist Mark Meth-Cohn. This renowned annual competition not only emphasizes outstanding technical skill but also seeks to highlight the joy and creativity inherent in wildlife photography, all while promoting public awareness and engagement in conservation efforts.
The winning photograph, aptly named "High Five," was captured in the misty forests of Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains. Meth-Cohn dedicated four days to trekking through these enchanting woods, on the lookout for gorilla families in their natural environment. His patience paid off when he stumbled upon a charming scene: a young gorilla caught mid-dance, its right paw raised as if to offer an enthusiastic high-five, complemented by a wonderfully perplexed expression on its face.
During his expedition, Meth-Cohn came across the Amahoro family, which is a sizable group of gorillas gathered in a clearing. While the adult gorillas went about their serene foraging, the younger ones participated in playful antics. “One particularly spirited young male was eager to display his acrobatic talents, performing pirouettes, tumbles, and high kicks,” Meth-Cohn describes. “His joyful performance was infectious, and I am overjoyed to have captured such a playful moment in my photograph.”
Chosen from an impressive pool of over 10,000 entries submitted by photographers from 109 countries, Meth-Cohn's work not only won the overall title but also clinched the Mammals category award. Stefan Maier, who serves as Nikon Europe’s senior general manager of marketing, emphasized that the shortlisted images stood out for their “joy, skill and creativity in portraying the wonders of nature.” He further noted that Meth-Cohn’s photograph embodies the lively character of wildlife beautifully.
Beyond the main award, Meth-Cohn received a Highly Commended recognition for another moving photograph entitled "Aaaawa – mum," depicting a tender moment between a baby gorilla and its mother sharing a kiss.
In other categories, several talented young photographers were recognized. Thirteen-year-old Grayson Bell from the United States won the Reptile, Amphibian and Insect category with his humorous image titled "Baptism of the Unwilling Convert," featuring two frogs engaged in a comical struggle. This achievement also earned him the Nikon Junior Photographer Award, aimed at those aged 16 and younger. Bell recounted, “I laid on my belly with my camera, observing them and capturing shots.”
The Young Photographer Award, designated for those under 25, was awarded to Paula Rustemeier from Germany for her lively photo titled "Hit the Dance Floor," which showcases two foxes in playful interaction.
The UK made a strong showing among the winners. Warren Price claimed the Think Tank Birds Award with his captivating shot "Headlock," featuring a guillemot looking through its partner’s bill. Meanwhile, Jenny Stock won the Fish and Other Aquatic Species Award for her expressive underwater portrait called "Smiley," featuring a blue-striped fangblenny.
Maggie Hoffman from the United States was awarded the Amazing Internet Portfolio Award for her series of four images titled "Digging for Gold," which humorously depicted a chimpanzee engaged in nose-picking. Additionally, Tatjana Epp from Germany took home the Video Category Winner title for her clip "Surfing Heron," which shows a heron gliding gracefully across the water's surface.
Many other remarkable images received Highly Commended mentions, including Kalin Botev’s playful depiction of monkeys, Meline Ellwanger’s photograph of yawning lions, Valtteri Mulkahainen’s smiling bear, and Lilian Luca’s endearing image of a lemur licking its finger.
Luca described the moment he captured his photograph in Madagascar, explaining how the lemur gazed at him and, with the grace of a seasoned performer and the timing of a comedian, raised its hand to lick it thoughtfully, as if fully aware of its charming actions.
Along with a beautifully crafted trophy, Meth-Cohn won an exciting safari adventure in Kenya’s Maasai Mara as well as a Think Tank camera bag. The public still has the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award online until March 1, 2026.
