TED Talks Daily The award for best comedy wildlife photo goes to... | Tom Sullam
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Mar 11, 2026 
Tom Sullam, photographer and cofounder of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, uses humor in wildlife photos to bridge the gap between people and nature. He recounts iconic funny images, explains why laughter builds empathy for animals, and shares how playful photos can inspire everyday conservation actions.
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Humor Makes Wildlife Photos Universally Relatable
- Reactions to funny wildlife photos are unconditionally personal and cross-cultural, making the images widely accessible.
- Tom Sullam noted different viewers often see different stories in the same picture, which helps the competition succeed globally.
Wildlife Mirrors Human Family Life
- Tom Sullam used animal family and adolescent images to mirror human relationships: a roaring female lion, puffin fish-hoarding, a gorilla picking his nose, and a lion cub sleeping awkwardly.
- These anthropomorphic moments highlight familiar family and teenage behaviors in wildlife.
Small Details Turn Animals Into Comedic Characters
- Sullam recounted playful adolescent-like photos: a chimp staring cross-eyed at a leaf and a duck exhaling in cold air that looked like smoking.
- These small, silly details turn ordinary wildlife moments into instantly shareable jokes.