All creatures great and small have a knack of looking hilarious if you watch them for long enough.

That's the lesson from these hilarious images, which have been snapped on the hop by lucky photographers with an eye for a prize.

A laughing cheetah, a gorilla caught in an unfortunate position and a baby elephant face-planting are on show for the annual Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2016, just two of the hundreds of hilarious photos being sent in from around the world.

Last year's competition featured 1,502 entries from 52 different countries, with highlights including a laughing seal, a tumbling leopard and a gorilla picking its nose - all beautifully photographed with perfect comedy timing and a strong conservation message.

A mountain gorilla is caught on camera picking its nose in this picture by Cedric Favero (

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Cedric Favero / Barcroft Images)
Snapper Douglas Croft captures the moment a lion cub follows its mother a little too closely (

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Douglas Croft / Barcroft Images)
German photographer Werner Schmaeing recorded a young fox cub spotting him from behind a tree (

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Werner Schmaeing / Barcroft Media)

This year, the panel of judges is comprised of wildlife experts and household names and includes comedian Hugh Dennis, wildlife TV presenter Kate Humble, African landscape photographer Tom Sullam, and wildlife photographer and Comedy Wildlife Awards founder Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE.

Tom says: "The essence of the competition is to raise awareness of the wildlife that we live with.

One very content snowy owl snapped by Edward Kopeschn in Ontario, Canada (

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Edward Kopeschn / Barcroft Media)
A macro photograph of honey bee tentacles taken by Murray McCulloch in New Zealand (

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Murray Mcculloch / Barcroft Media)
A harvest mouse appeared to be waving at Michael Erwin's camera in Cheshire (

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Michael Erwin / Barcroft Media)

"Comedy is an essential part of our lives, and there are thousands of occasions when pets and wild animals alike behave in a funny manner."

Working alongside international wildlife charity The Born Free Foundation, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards hopes to share with the public the true playfulness of the animal kingdom.

However, there is a serious message behind the competition to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the environment for the world's creatures.

Two adorable little monkeys share a smooch captured by Sushil Chauhan in Kenya (

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Sushil Chauhan / Barcroft Media)
Eastern Chipmunk stuffing her cheeks with corn by Barb D'Arpino in ontario (

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Barb D'Arpino / Barcroft Media)
A baby elephant face-plants the ground in Zimbabwe, by Markus Pavlowsky (

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Markus Pavlowsky / Barcroft Media)
A shaking horse taken by Alexander Pfeiffer with a high shutter speed in Eschwege, Germany (

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Alexander Pfeiffer / Barcroft Media)

"One of the key aspects of our competition, apart from enjoying wildlife doing funny things, is to highlight the tragic state of many wildlife species around the world and to create awareness for conservation issues, which is why we have a wonderful partnership with the Born Free Foundation.

"We will be sharing revenue with the Born Free Foundation as well as promoting their incredible work."

Austria's Julian Rad won the competition last year with his memorable shot of a chubby-cheeked hamster running towards the camera.

An adorable little monkey photographed in Japan by Nicolas de Vaulx makes a snowball (

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de VAULX Nicolas / Barcroft Media)
A regular beach day for a kangaroo snapped by Rosario Losano Cordoba in Lucky Bay, Australia (

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Rosario Losano Cordoba / Barcroft Media)
A pelican unfortunately drops his catch of the day in Greece, by Nicolas de Vaulx (

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de VAULX Nicolas / Barcroft Media)
Whilst Adam White was shooting the seal playing in Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, it decided to give a wave (

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Adam White / Barcroft Media)

The deadline for entries is October 1st 2016 and the overall winner will receive a stunning photographic safari holiday consisting of seven nights in Kenya's Masai Mara, courtesy of Alex Walker's Serian, whose intimate safari camps are among the best in Africa.

The winner also receives return flights to Kenya from the UK courtesy of Kenya Airways, and a Nikon D810 body and 24-120mm f/4G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR lens.

To be in with a chance to win you can enter the competition for free through the website .