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Comedy wildlife photo awards shortlist revealed
From a kangaroo playing air guitar to a squabble between feathered friends.

The thousands of entries for this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been whittled down to a shortlist of the best photos and videos.

Forty-one standalone photographs are shortlisted, along with three videos and three portfolios. They will be judged by a panel which includes TV presenter Kate Humble, comedian Hugh Dennis, and the co-founder of the Born Free Foundation Will Travers.

The public can also vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice Award. The winners will be announced on 23 November.

We’ve picked six of our favourites from the shortlist.

(C) Otter Kwek/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Otter Ballerina

This snap of a smooth-coated otter was taken by the appropriately-named Otter Kwek in Singapore.
 
Mr Kwek said: “I showed this photo to a ballet teacher, and she commented that the otter is a natural but just needs to tuck in its tummy a bit.”

(C) Dikla Gabriely/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Picture me! Picture me!

This brown bear from Finland was very keen to attract the attention of photographer Dikla Gabriely.

(C) John Blumenkamp/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Monday Blahs

John Blumenkamp, who took this snap in the Grand Teton National Park, USA, said: “This great grey owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise. But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of 'Is Monday over yet?'” 

(C) Jason Moore/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Air Guitar Roo

Spotted by Jason Moore as he was driving in Australia, this grey kangaroo is very much enjoying playing air guitar. Perhaps he's pretending to be a member of legendary Aussie rockers AC/DC.

(C) Jacek Stankiewicz/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Dispute

These goldfinches, photographed by Jacek Stankiewicz in a Polish forest, are clearly not getting along.
 
Mr Stankiewicz said: “My friends interpret this scene in two ways. 1. A young naughty kid is arguing with a parent. 2. One kid is reporting to the parent that its brother did something wrong: look he has broken the glass in the window.”

(C) Adrian Slazok/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Everyone Can Fly

Snapped on the east coast of England in late autumn, Adrian Slazok's photograph shows a grey seal taking off from the beach.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.