There is often nothing that brings us together more than a hearty laugh and time spent with Mother Nature herself. To encourage this delight for the natural world and foster appreciation for the animal kingdom in all its silliness, this year’s top 40 finalists for the 2019 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been announced.

The competition, now in its fifth year, was founded by photographers Tom Sullam and Paul Joynson-Hicks to showcase the lighter side of wildlife and promote conservation by putting an absurd spin on the animal kingdom.

“Every year we do this competition, it gets more and more exciting seeing how people visualize the funny sides of wildlife in the wild,” said Joynson-Hicks in a statement.

“Our planet is in distress, we all know that, now we just need to know what to do. Hopefully, we can provide a few small tips to get people started.” These include shopping responsibly (think palm oil and one-use plastics), restricting water use at home, and becoming a “wild influencer” who helps spread appreciation for the natural world in a responsible way.

Winners will be announced on November 13, 2019, with the overall winner taking home a one-week safari for two with Alex Walker's Serian in the Masai Mara, Kenya. There is also the People’s Choice Award, so be sure to vote for your favorite photographer at their website.

Without further ado, here are just some of the 40 finalist images hand-picked by panelists at the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019.

To view more, check out 2018's winning images here, 2017's batch of absurdities, and 2016's giggly wonders.