“We spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home," Meth-Cohn told the competition organisers when recounting how he captured his award-winning image. "On this particular day, we came across a large family group known as the Amahoro family, they were gathered in a forest clearing where the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair: pirouetting, tumbling, and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image.” 

The winning image was selected from a pool of over 10,000 entries from 109 countries – the highest number to date in the competition's 11-year history. 

"We are so thrilled to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity showcased in this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards," said Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe. "All of our category winners use joy, skills and imagination to capture the natural world, and Mark’s winning image perfectly represents the playful spirit of wildlife. At Nikon, we are incredibly proud to support these visual storytellers and provide them with the tools to share their unique perspectives, inspiring audiences everywhere to connect with and care for our planet’s remarkable wildlife."

Also walking away with accolades at this year's contest was Grayson Bell for his image of two wrestling frogs which earned him the Nikon Junior Photographer Award, Paula Rustemeier who topped the Nikon Young Category for her shot of a trio of playful foxes, and Tatjana Epp whose video of a 'surfing heron' was named the winner in the Nikon Video Category. 

In addition to the category winners, ten entires were recognised as Highly Commended for their creativity and composition. Here's a look at the full collection:

The winning shot was selected from a pool of 9,000 images – the highest number of entries on record in the award's ten-year history. The top 45 or so images were scrutinised (and laughed over) by a group of expert judges, with Marchetti's photo sneaking through as the ultimate winner in a hotly contested competition. 

"I have taken many, many photographs of squirrels, in many situations over the years in Italy," Marchetti explained, "but this one struck me as really funny and such a strange position, because it is that exact moment when the squirrel is detaching its back legs from the trunk to enter its hide. Whenever I show this image at the nature seminars at my local photography club, the audience always explode with raucous laughter, so I had to enter it!"

Stefan Maier, Senior General Manager of Marketing at Nikon Europe, had this to say about the winning shot: "We are thrilled to celebrate Milko Marchetti's outstanding achievement in the Nikon Comedy Photography Awards 2024. His image, 'Stuck Squirrel,' brilliantly captures the playful and unpredictable moments that make nature so enchanting."

Founded by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the competition aims to inspire through comedy by showcasing the funnier side of the natural world and raising awareness about conservation. "This year's competition received a record number of entries, each one a testament to the power of photography in evoking emotion," says Maier. "We look forward to continuing to inspire the next generation of wildlife photographers through these wonderful awards."

Here's a taste of some of the other winners and Highly Commended images:

Selected from a massive pool of just under 9,000 entries from 98 countries, expert judges winnowed the list down to just 40 standalone images, 4 portfolio entries and 3 video entries that are in the running to take home the grand prize.

"These images capture not only the humour and charm of wildlife, but also highlight the importance of conservation in a way that resonates with people of all ages and from all different walks of life," says Stefan Maier, Nikon Europe Senior General Manager Marketing. "At Nikon, we are immensely proud to be part of a competition that brings both joy and awareness to the wonder of our natural world."

Co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, the awards aim to combine exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour to help promote the conservation of wild species and spaces.

Here's a look at some of our favourite shortlisted images (for more about the competition and to cast your vote in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award, visit the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards website):

Co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards focuses on the lighter side of wildlife photography, but also plays an important role in promoting conservation.

The winning images will be decided upon by a panel of expert judges that includes TV presenter Kate Humble; actor and comedian Hugh Dennis; world-renowned wildlife photographers Daisy Gilardini and Will Burrard-Lucas; wildlife expert and co-founder of The Born Free Foundation Will Travers OBE; Ashley Hewson, the Managing Director of Serif, makers of Affinity Photo; Celina Dunlop, picture editor extraordinaire; underwater film and diving aficionado Luke Inman and Bella Lack, a passionate young conservationist. 

The public also has a chance to get involved by voting for their favourite shot in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award (you can vote here).  

Here's a look at some of the finalists in this year's competition:

The sighting took place on the West Street Bridge, a well-known crossing that stretches over the Sand River in the heart of the MalaMala Concession. Baboons regularly make use of the bridge and "this particular day was no different, as a troop of baboons was soaking up the morning sun," Botes explained to Latest Sightings. "Unfortunately for them, the warm sun was just so good that they lost focus and did not see the lions approaching. I instantly saw what was happening and decided to veer off to the side and watch from down below."

Although the lions were not actively hunting, these big cats are opportunistic predators and will readily snatch an easy meal if it's available. As the pride sauntered onto the bridge, the baboons suddenly spotted them, triggering a frantic scramble for safety. With no trees to escape to, the primates were forced to scurry onto the metal girder on the underside of the bridge where they remained safe from the swipes of lions. 

"The baboons, feeling confident now that they were out of reach, began taunting the lions. They were literally under the lions’ noses, and the lions could not do a thing," Botes quipped.

Realising they could not get to the troop, the lions eventually moved on and the baboons went about their business.

"With so much going on in the world, we could all use a bumper dose of fun and laughter and this year’s finalists have definitely delivered that!" co-founder and professional photographer Tom Sullam stated in a press release. The contest was created by Sullam and fellow photographer Paul Joynson - Hicks MBE with the goal of highlighting the humorous side of nature while also raising awareness about the plight of wild species and spaces.

Each year, a sustainable conservation organisation is selected as a beneficiary of the competition with the aim of furthering conservation efforts. This year the Comedy Wildlife team are working with the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), a UK charity that supports conservation leaders working in their home countries across the Global South. Over 29 years it has channelled £20 million ($23 million) to more than 200 conservationists in 80 countries.

The public also has a say in which image they find the funniest and can cast their votes in the Affinity Photo People’s Choice Award.

Here's a look at some of the 2022 finalists (more here).

Now in its eighth year, the popular photo contest has attracted thousands of entries from across the globe that showcase the lighter side of nature. Co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, the contest is not just about sharing funny moments from the natural world, it also aims to promote the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats. Each year, the competition highlights a charity working to help champion conservation. This year, the organisers will be donating 10% of the total net revenue from the contest to the Whitley Fund For Nature – a UK charity that offers awards and grants to conservationists around the world.

Here's a look at some of the highlights so far from the 2022 entries (to find out more about the competition or to enter your giggle-inducing photo, visit the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards website):

Header image: William Parkinson/Comedy Wildlife 2022

Friendly warning: the video contains strong language (which is forgivable given that the workers had a falcon flying at speed towards their heads).

"This is not a safe work environment!" one of the workers who filmed the action can be heard shouting through a swell of nervous laughter. You can say that again. It's unclear how the ordeal ended, but we're hopeful neither human nor bird was injured.

The angry attacker that was "trying to kill" the workers is a peregrine falcon and it was probably just defending its nest. These speedy raptors – the fastest flying animals in the world – are known to make use of skyscrapers as urban equivalents to the rocky cliffs that they use when nesting in wilder spaces. The predatory birds are believed to mate for life and may use the same nest site for several years– a nest site which they will defend aggressively against any potential intruders.

The workers in the viral video appear to be dangling off the face of Wisconsin's tallest building, the U.S. Bank Center, which has a storied history with the state's peregrine falcons. In the 1960s, falcon populations across much of the United States had all but vanished largely as a result of the widespread use of pesticides like DDT. Wisconsin banned the use of the harmful chemical in 1972, with the federal government following suit a year later, but the damage was already done and many bird species suffered dramatic declines. 

In Wisconsin, keen conservationist and falconer Greg Septon launched an ambitious recovery project. He got to work acquiring a small population of captive-reared peregrines to kickstart their reintroduction in the state. Milwaukee's famed skyscraper was the temporary home of 14 falcons that were housed in artificial nest boxes on top of the building back in 1987. Over the next five years 103 falcons were released in Wisconsin forming a population robust enough to start breeding on their own.

The birds have adapted incredibly well to an urban lifestyle and appear content to nest in artificial 'scrapes' created in the shadow of power plants or atop tall buildings. Since the early 1990s, over 400 peregrine falcons have hatched at nest boxes erected at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) facilities making up a pretty hefty percentage of new birds born in the state.

So the sight of a peregrine falcon in Milwaukee is actually a positive sign of dedicated conservation in action (even if the bird is swooping full-speed at your head). 

Header image: Mosharaf hossain

This cheeky bear cub was filmed making itself comfortable on a couch in Snowmass Village, Colorado. According to the video description, the "bear yearling had been separated from his family ...  and had forgotten that's it's time to hibernate! He was taking a late fall/early winter break on our porch where he was trying to tuck himself in for a nap." That nap preparation evidently involved ripping the stuffing out of the couch cushions and tossing it around like confetti.

Animal control was called out and suggested that the Colorado residents leave the cub be (provided they were content to have their sofa remodelled). "He ended up staying well past our bedtime but was gone by morning. We had a little clean-up to do, but we were happy to do it. We were hoping he would come back but he didn't, and we hope he's asleep somewhere for the winter."

This is not the first bear to take over a sofa in Colorado: In September last year, a backyard couch in Steamboat Springs became unusable after a number of nightly visits from a rowdy bear. In instances where bears do become a nuisance or a threat, Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommend that homeowners use air horns, car alarms or bear mace to chase the animals away from their properties.

The image – captured in 2016 on a bridge that runs over the river Xun in the Lonsheng Gorge, Yunnan, in China – was chosen from a collection of over 7,000 chuckle-worthy entries in this year's competition. Founded by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the contest showcases the funnier side of the natural world and aims to promote wildlife conservation through humour. This year, 10% of the total net revenue from the competition will be donated to Save Wild Orangutans – an initiative that safeguards orangutans in and around Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo.

"I was absolutely overwhelmed to learn that my entry had won, especially when there were quite a number of wonderful photos entered," Jensen told the event organisers. "The publicity that my image has received over the last few months has been incredible, it is such a great feeling to know that one’s image is making people smile globally as well as helping to support some fantastically worthwhile conservation causes." 

Golden silk monkeys roam freely in the forest area where the shot was taken. Family groups are commonly seen playing on the bridge and are very inquisitive towards humans, according to a statement released by the event organisers. "This particular male monkey was actually showing a sign of aggression as he sat on one of the supporting wires, but as Ken’s fabulous shot shows - timing is everything."

Also picking up an award in this year's contest was Arthur Trevino whose image entitled "Ninja Prairie Dog" landed the top prize in the Animals of the Land Category. The perfectly timed photo shows a bald eagle, wings spread, seemingly being held off by a brave prairie dog. Trevino confirmed that the prairie dog managed to evade the eagle's clutches.

Here's a look at some of the other winners and highly commended images in this year's competition:

Filmed by safari guide Sabre Meeser and recently uploaded to the Latest Sightings YouTube channel, the clip shows a mother leopard hauling her kill into the fork of a tree following closely by an inquisitive cub. Stashing carcasses in trees is fairly standard practice for leopards. It helps keep the spoils away from rival predators and allows the cats to dine uninterrupted. The trick, of course, is to keep the carcass in the tree.

Confident that the sizeable meal was securely draped in the boughs, the leopard returned to the ground to mask any evidence of the carcass that might attract prowling scavengers. Her cub, meanwhile, got to work gorging itself on impala meat. While dining, the youngster dislodged the carcass and – lacking the strength of its mother – could do nothing but watch it slip from the branch to land squarely on top of mom (kids, amiright?).

The leopardess attempted to evade the tumbling carcass with an impressive leap, but it was a touch too late and the cat took a hit. Thankfully, she did not appear to be injured at all and quickly bounded over to the impala (presumably to briskly return it to the treetops – hopefully this time out of reach of her cheeky cub).

South Australian resident Karen Wishart recently captured footage of a particularly pugnacious kangaroo 'sparring' with a hammock in her backyard. The young marsupial can be seen dancing around the hanging fabric, dishing out vicious jabs and kicks (and getting its feet tangling up in the process).

"I'm not entirely sure if this roo was playing, practising fighting or thought the swing was a threat," Wishart quipped on Facebook. Backyard trampolines and swings can be a problem for wild animals, so we're glad to see that this roo walked away without injury (except for perhaps a bruised ego at having lost a fight with a hammock).

Male kangaroos will readily take one another on in punch-ups for territory or mating rights, so it's possible that this youngster is honing his skills for the real deal. A bit more practice may be required.

Top header image: Darcy Moore, Flickr

"We were overwhelmed with the number and quality of entries we received this year, with well over 7,000 photos submitted from every corner of the globe," Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE, co-founder of the popular awards, stated in a press release. "It was an amazing turnout, especially given the impact of the pandemic. The huge number of images we receive every year illustrates the appetite there is to engage with conservation and reminds us that wildlife truly is incredible and hilarious and we must do all we can to protect it." 

This year's mix of entries – the greatest diversity of species seen in the competition to date – include a 'laughing' vine snake from India, a trio of 'singing' mudskippers from Taiwan, and a kangaroo performing a picture-perfect Pavarotti impersonation in Australia. 

Founded by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the contest showcases the lighter side of the natural world and aims to promote wildlife conservation through humour. This year, 10% of the total net revenue from the competition will be donated to Save Wild Orangutans – an initiative that safeguards orangutans in and around Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo.

The public also have a chance to pick the snap they find most amusing in the People's Choice Awards – a hotly contested accolade decided upon by public vote (you can make your selection on the Comedy Wildlife Awards website). "Whittling down the list of photographs was harder than ever this year," Tom Sullam said in a statement. "It was great to see a range of animals, from the incredibly rare to the humble pigeon. We can’t wait to see what the public choose as their favourite."

Here are a few of our top picks from this year's contest:

The McCormicks were only out of the house for an afternoon on December 2, but that provided enough time for a festive-feeling marsupial to shuffle its way into their home and clamber into the branches of their Christmas tree. When the family returned, they immediately realised something was amiss when they opened the front door and their dog made a beeline for the tree. A floor strewn with broken baubles was the second clue and it didn’t take Mrs McCormick long to spot the new addition to the tree.

“[The koala] was pretty tangled up in the lights,” 16-year-old Taylah McCormick explained to The Guardian. “It was a fake tree and very old but she still tried eating the leaves off it … I saw her munch down on some but she stopped when she realised it was plastic.”

Amanda McCormick – Taylah’s mother – was about as shocked as you’d expect a person who just found a live koala in their Christmas tree to be. “I thought one of my kids may have put like a soft toy in there, but no, it was a live one,” she said. “We’ve had them in our trees before but not inside on our Christmas tree … It must have crawled in when the doors were open, it would have been in our house for at least three hours.”

The McCormick’s quickly called the hotline for the Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue, but when they described their predicament to the operator, their story was met with some skepticism. “The call went through to our 24-hour hotlines and of course the operator at first thought it was a prank call,” Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue co-founder Dee Hearne-Hellon told The Guardian.

This koala has single handedly saved 2020. Full story up soon on @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/NGvURdOTuJ

— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) December 3, 2020

After some convincing, the rescue team arrived to unsnarl the koala – an operation that resulted in much disgruntled bellowing from the marsupial. According to Hearne-Hellon the home invader was a healthy, juvenile female of about three to four years old.

The koala – named “Daphne” by Taylah – likely popped in out of curiosity. “It’s not actually that hot, so they wouldn’t be seeking shade, particularly at the moment … They are curious, and they are in the suburbs, and if they see something that they want to have a look at they’ll just drop in and have a look,” Hearne-Hellon explained.

A plastic-leafed tree is hardly a healthy environment for a species known to dine exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, and thankfully Daphne was released into a bushy area nearby where it’s hoped she’ll remain.

Of course, Daphne isn’t the first Australian animal to try its luck masquerading as a Christmas ornament: Last year, a couple in Brisbane arrived home from work to find a carpet python draped around their tree like a length of living tinsel.

Christmas in Australia. Go figure.

Top header image: Justin Brown, Flickr

Each year, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards showcase the lighter side of nature with a collection of chuckle-worthy images from across the globe, and 2020's crop of comedy pics should coax out a chortle or two. This year's selected finalists include a photo of a fox that appears to be in very serious negotiations with a mouse, a portrait of the happiest parrotfish you've ever seen, and a shot of a penguin that looks like it's stumbling home from a big night on the town.

Founded by professional photographers and passionate conservationists Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam, the competition "aims to highlight the extremely important message of wildlife conservation in an engaging and positive way," the organisers wrote in a press release. Now in its sixth year, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Award is judged by an impressive panel of wildlife experts, photographers and comedians, including TV presenter Kate Humble, actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, and wildlife expert and co-founder of The Born Free Foundation Will Travers OBE.

But it's not all puking penguins and rude turtles, the competition also aims to spread an important message about conservation, a task that the organisers believe begins at home. They encourage shopping closer to home to reduce our collective carbon footprint, reducing plastic packaging and planting flowers on your windowsill to attract bees and other pollinators.

The winners will be announced on October 22 – in the meantime here's a selection of some of our favourite finalists.

The competition – now in its sixth year – uses humorous imagery to raise spirits and spread awareness about the importance of saving wild species and spaces. From a head-scratching seal to a flamingo walking on water, the leading entries in this year’s competition are sure to coax a giggle out of those feeling a bit despondent in these uncertain times.

"The pictures coming in this year are particularly poignant, and we are thrilled to have so many strong contenders already," photographer and co-founder of the competition Tom Sullam explained in a statement.

"The world is experiencing unprecedented upheaval, but the single brightest light coming out of the gloom is the positive impact on the climate that our self-imposed lockdown has created. Sadly though, many conservation efforts are losing funding and our competition exists to keep raising awareness, a smile and hopefully support wild animals around the world."

For $5 you can name a cockroach after your ex and watch a live stream of the hapless animal getting served up as an enrichment treat for a hungry bird. If you have a bit of extra cash to burn (let’s face it, you didn’t spend any money on gifts this year), you can upgrade from cockroach to pre-frozen rodent and watch your ratty ex get swallowed by a snake.

The feeding – while oh-so-satisfying for those whose previous partner’s names get selected for eradication by consumption – is part of a regular schedule of daily feedings at the zoo. The roaches are sourced from professional breeders and are cared for by staff at the zoo’s Reptile House, the facility explains on their website.

Feeding live rodents to snakes can lead to injuries and stress, so to help quell any public outcry about the event, the zoo were careful to point out that when feeding snakes, they always use frozen rodents acquired from a mouse farm and thawed just before feeding time. 

San Antonio Zoo became Humane Certified by American Humane in 2017 – a prestigious seal of approval that guarantees the animals at the facility are treated according to the highest standards of care. The facility is also accredited by both AZA and ZAA.

If you’re more rabid romantic than spurned lover, perhaps you’d prefer to give your partner a roachy gift that doesn’t end in entomological murder. The Bronx Zoo offers starry eyed lovers the chance to “name a Roach for your Valentine, because roaches are forever.”

For $15 you can name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after your loved one and you’ll get a digital certificate to prove it (no guarantees that the roach will respond to its new name).

So whether you’re head over heels or crawling with resentment, there’s a cockroach gift out there perfect for your Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Header image: liz west/Flickr

While on a recent safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, UK-resident Steven Hayley filmed a hyena’s ungainly attempt at retrieving an impala carcass from the fork of a tree where it had been stashed by a leopard the previous evening. Hyenas are expert kleptoparasites and often use their brawn to chase leopards and other predators off their kills. To evade the wily hyenas, leopards hoist their meals into the treetops where they will be out of reach of their rivals. That is, unless the kill is stashed too low in the branches and is spotted by an overly ambitious hyena.

Hayley was enjoying an afternoon game drive in the central section of the Kruger Park in September this year when he was lucky enough to find a leopard feasting on an impala in the boughs of a tree. Aware that leopards often revisit their kills to finish off their meals, Hayley returned at first light the following day in the hopes of catching another glimpse of the elusive cat. Instead he found a pair of hyenas eager to get at the remains of the impala.

Hayley stuck around and, after about 20 minutes, his patience was rewarded when one of the hyenas began scrambling up the tree trunk to get to the carcass. “You very rarely see hyenas climb anything at all so this was extremely exciting!” Hayley told Latest Sightings.

The ascent was successful and the hyena quickly began feeding on what remained of the impala. Emboldened by its comrade's tree-climbing success, the second hyena also made an attempt to get to the meal, but was forced back by the first hyena who wanted the spoils for itself.

After a few minutes spent trying to dislodge the carcass, the plan went awry when a misstep sent the hyena hurtling to the ground. Undeterred, the determined predator “got straight back up to try again,” according to Hayley. “I found this unbelievable especially after such a heavy fall from quite a fair height!”

Eventually, the hyena clambered back down the tree having failed to free up the carcass. “The two hyenas ended up fighting for the scraps that had fallen to the ground and finally gave up and left.”

Hyenas have long been unfairly reduced to the role of lowly scavenger, overshadowed by sleeker predators like lions and leopards. In reality, hyenas are highly proficient hunters capable of tackling large prey, or overpowering other carnivores to snatch an easy meal. When it comes to arboreal abilities, however, leopards have definitely got the upper hand (or paw in this case).

Hyenas, unlike leopards, lack retractable claws – a morphological trait that restricts their ability to climb. Their size and physiological makeup are also not geared for climbing. Leopards, meanwhile, are amongst the most proficient of the feline tree-climbers. Powerful shoulders and forelimbs, protractile claws, a low centre of gravity, and a high power-to-weight ratio all combine to make these cats adept at scaling trees. Strength is only half of the equation though and leopards are also adapted to be agile so they dart from branch to branch. Their front legs are not fused to their collarbones and are only connected by muscles and ligaments allowing free movement, while a mobile backbone helps the cats to turn and twist, sometimes shifting their upper bodies 180 degrees relative to their lower bodies. Long, sturdy tails aid with balance.

It’s an impressive suite of skills, but it’s all for nought if the carcass is left exposed in the lower branches.

Top header image: gundy, Flickr

Skinner's shot was selected out of an impressive field of around 4,000 entries from 68 countries. Captured in Botswana, the winning entry shows a playful lion cub on the brink of sinking its claws into the, er, "delicates" of an unsuspecting male lion. "The thought of what might have happened next, truly makes the eyes water!" the contest organisers wrote in a press release.

Skinner was delighted with the win, saying: “It certainly warms my heart to know that this image will spread some laughter and happiness around the world. I am happy to report that this lioness continues to thrive in the pride, having seen her again in October this year."

The 2019 competition was judged by an impressive panel of wildlife experts, photographers and comedians, including TV presenter Kate Humble, actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, and wildlife expert and co-founder of The Born Free Foundation Will Travers OBE.

The goal of the competition is not just to provide a bit of light-hearted relief, say the professional photographers who launched the awards, but also to spread an important message about conservation, a task that they believe begins at home. They encourage people everywhere to shop responsibly and cut down on un-recyclable products, conserve water, and become a "wild influencer" to help promote positive environmental practices among your friends and family.  

"I can only hope and encourage everyone, as a collective to each do our part in the conservation of all wildlife species, so that future generations can enjoy them, in the same way that I have done during my career as a wildlife photographer," says Skinner

Here'a s look at some of the other finalists and category winners:

In the late 1980s, staff at the Longleat Safari Park in southern England were growing increasingly frustrated with guests who refused to adhere to safety regulations. At the time, the park's drive-though lion enclosure housed 42 of the big cats – enough to comfortably polish off the human contents of a four-door sedan should the opportunity present itself. But despite the obvious dangers, many of the guests who travelled through the lion enclosure were caught hopping out of their cars to take bathroom breaks, fix flat tyres, or even, in one instance, to enjoy a quiet picnic. So the BBC put together a safety demonstration to deter the rule-breakers. The resulting video is both hilarious and horrifying.

Humanoid dummies were carefully positioned in front of an apparently broken-down vehicle. Daniel the Dummy was sporting a navy blue suit while his partner Danielle looked fetching in a pink blouse, knee-high white skirt and heels (in the 80s, folks dressed up for a visit to the safari park it seems). The lions were initially wary of the odd couple until a bold male nipped Daniel's navy jacket and – convinced that the dummy was not about to fight back – snatched poor ol' Dan by the abdomen and trotted off proudly, the dummy's limbs dropping off as he went. Danielle suffered an even more gruesome end: a gentle nudge from a lioness sent her tumbling to the ground where, upon impact, her head popped right off and her torso split in two. Her legs were quickly carried away.

The video, while a touch more hilarious than intended, highlights a long history of irresponsible wildlife viewing by humans. Lions kept in enclosures are notoriously problematic and will often climb on top of vehicles or chew on tyres and bumpers. This, coupled with visitors who refuse to adhere to the rules, can lead to disaster. "Zoos and safari parks are never completely risk-free places and it is unreasonable to expect that they would be,” Sarah Wolfensohn, a professor of animal welfare at the University of Surrey, told the Guardian last year. Regulations in safari parks and game reserves serve to protect both people and animals. When they are ignored the results are often tragic.

In January, a man was mauled to death by lions at a zoo in India after he scaled a 12-foot wall and entered their enclosure, while in 2016, a woman in China was attacked by a tiger after she alighted from her vehicle in an animal park. She survived, but another woman who rushed to her aid was fatally wounded. In South Africa, a country that is home to several controversial lion parks, stories abound of injury and death as a result of irresponsible behaviour by either tourists or park owners.

Even cats of a wilder guild have been recorded investigating unfenced campsites or getting up close with vehicles.

We should heed the warning of the powerfully 80s BBC clip. Don't be a dummy. Give the lions their space.