Zookeepers from around the world have shared their funniest and cutest animal photos of 2024.
The adorable snaps were shared by keepers from all over the world, with entries from zoos and nature centers in Britain, Denmark, the US and more.
The informal competition is organized by the Zoo Keepers Europe Facebook page, which has amassed almost 16,000 members since its inception in 2014.
One of this year’s top-rated photos by the judges was a photo of a Gelada monkey grabbing its baby by the tail as it tries to dive off a rock, taken by Chloe Stamper at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Another highly regarded shot was the work of Terri-May Cook at the New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire, who captured the moment two smooth-coated otters viewed their own reflection in the glass of their exhibit.
Across the pond, Bryan Kao of the Bronx Zoo, New York City, captured a photo of a two-toed otter scratching its chin.
Meanwhile, Christina Christensen from Copenhagen Zoo in Denmark captured a photo of Chin, the baby Asian elephant, trying to smash a pumpkin.
Some of the best entries from Britain include a photo of Lumi, the black rhino, hunting starlings at Yorkshire Zoo, taken by keeper Zoe Brown.
Zookeepers from around the world have shared their funniest and cutest animal photos of 2024. Pictured: A Gelada Monkey Grabbing Her Baby By The Tail by Chloe Stamper
Al Capone, the Brazilian tapir, smiles at the camera at Newquay Zoo photo taken by Tracey Twomey
Elsewhere, Tracey Twomey’s photo of Al Capone, the smiling Brazilian tapir at Newquay Zoo.
Craig Holmes, who runs the Zoo Keepers Europe Facebook page, has been running the competition since 2021 and said they received “several hundred” entries this year.
“At the end of the year we have a competition for the photos that zookeepers have taken over the year,” he said.
‘They get behind-the-scenes access while they’re working and generally get pretty good photos.
‘We had quite a few entries this year, a few hundred. We go through them and pick the best ones.
‘My two favorites are probably the smooth-coated otters at Newforest Wildlife Park, where you can see their reflection in the window, and a spotted laughing thrush at Newquay Zoo, where it almost looks like it’s looking into the camera.’
A hippopotamus at the Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, enjoying its dinner, in a photo by Christina Christensen
Giraffe sticking out its tongue at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, photo by Christina Christensen
Another highly regarded photograph was the work of Terri-May Cook at the New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire, who captured the moment two preening otters viewed their own reflection in the glass of their exhibit.
Alice the red panda looks shocked at the photo of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, taken by Jess Greenwood
Grevy’s zebra stallion does the Flehmen response to guests at Zoo Miami, photo by Bryan Kao
Chin, an Asian elephant at the Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, is depicted crushing a pumpkin with his head, created by Christina Christensen
Some of the best entries from Britain include a photo of Lumi, the black rhino, hunting starlings at Yorkshire Zoo, taken by keeper Zoe Brown
Wildebeest chases curious giraffe calf that gets too close in Knuthenborg Safari Park, Denmark, photo by Christina Christensen
Across the pond, Bryan Kao of the Bronx Zoo, New York City, captured a photo of a two-toed otter scratching its chin
Arctic wolves in Zoo du bois d’attilly, France, the photo was taken by Chloe Stamper
Meanwhile, an adorable Rusty spotted cat was snapped at Bridlington Zoo by Chloe Stamper
Stanley the California sea lion at Yorkshire Wildlife Park ‘is always happy to help with clean-ups, especially when it comes to the garden hose’, says Charlotte Pywell who took the photo
Curious Spotted Laughing Thrush at Newquay Zoo, photo taken by Tracey Twomey
Scottish wildcat in the Ax Valley Wildlife Park in East Devon, photo taken by Medea Armstrong
Rocky the raccoon at Askham Bryan Wildlife Conservation Park, York, photo by Ryan Colman
An ancient-looking Lesser Adjutant Stork at the Bronx Zoo, photo by Bryan Kao
Moose mother and calf in Knuthenborg Safari Park, Denmark photo by Christina Christensen
17-year-old N’Dowe, the youngest gorilla at Paignton Zoo, Devon, who is the bossiest but also very gentle with his keepers, photo by Miriam Haas