Milko Marchetti Wins Top Honor at 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards

The winners of the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards were announced during a special event at the Oxo Gallery in London. Photographer Milko Marchetti took home the top prize for his humorous image titled “Stuck Squirrel,” which shows a red squirrel in a comical position as it detaches its back legs from a tree trunk. This winning image was selected from a record 9,000 entries, the highest in the competition’s 10-year history.

Marchetti’s image was praised for capturing a playful and quirky moment in nature, and he expressed his joy at winning, saying he never expected to be the chosen one. For his victory, Marchetti received a safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara, a handmade trophy, and a new photography bag.

In addition to the overall winner, several category winners were recognized:

Insect Category: “Mantis Flamenca” by Jose Miguel Gallego Molina
Reptile Category: “Frog in a Balloon” by Eberhard Ehmke
Bird Category: “Whiskered Tern Crash On Landing” by Damyan Petkov
Fish and Other Aquatic Animals: “Unexpected Role Swap” by Przemyslaw Jakubczyk
Nikon Junior Category: “Smooching Owlets” by Sarthak Rangandadhan
Nikon Young Photographer Category: “Awkward Smiley Frog” by Kingston Tam
Portfolio Category: Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb
People’s Choice Award: “Shake, Ruffle, Rattle, and Roll” by Tapani Linnanmäki

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