Zookeepers from around the world have shared their funniest and cutest animal pictures of 2024.
The adorable snaps were shared by keepers from across the globe, with entries from zoos and wildlife centres in the UK, Denmark, the USA and more.
The informal competition is run by Facebook page Zoo Keepers Europe, which has amassed nearly 16,000 members since its creation in 2014.
One of the top-rated pictures by judges this year included a snap of a Gelada monkey grabbing her baby by the tail as he attempts to dive from a rock, snapped by Chloe Stamper at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Another highly rated shot was the work of Terri-May Cook at the New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire, who captured the moment two smooth coated otters checked out their own reflection in the glass of their exhibit.
Across the pond, Bryan Kao of the Bronx Zoo, New York City, caught a snap of a two-toed otter scratching its chin.
Meanwhile in Denmark, Christina Christensen of Copenhagen Zoo snapped a photo of Chin, the baby Asian elephant, attempting to smash a pumpkin.
Some of the UK’s best entries include a photo of Lumi the black rhino, chasing starlings at Yorkshire Zoo, taken by keeper Zoe Brown.
Zookeepers from around the world have shared their funniest and cutest animal pictures of 2024. Pictured: A Gelada monkey grabbing her baby by the tail by Chloe Stamper
Al Capone the Brazilian tapir smiles for the camera at Newquay Zoo photo taken by Tracey Twomey
Elsewhere, Tracey Twomey’s shot 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.
‘We run a competition at the end of the year for the photos that zookeepers have taken over the course of the year,’ he said.
‘They get access behind the scenes while they’re working, and generally get quite good photos.
‘We had a good few entries this year – a couple of hundred. We go through them and pick out the best.
‘My two favourites 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 the Newquay Zoo, where it’s almost like he’s looking into the camera.’
A hippo at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, enjoying his dinner, in a picture taken by Christina Christensen
Giraffe sticking out its tongue at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark, picture taken by Christina Christensen
Another highly rated shot was the work of Terri-May Cook at the New Forest Wildlife Park in Hampshire, who captured the moment two smooth coated otters checked out their own reflection in the glass of their exhibit
Alice the red panda looks shocked at Yorkshire Wildlife Park picture taken by Jess Greenwood
Grevy’s Zebra stallion doing the Flehmen response towards guests at Zoo Miami photo taken by Bryan Kao
Chin, an Asian elephant at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark is pictured crushing pumpkin with his head, taken by Christina Christensen
Some of the UK’s best entries include a photo of Lumi the black rhino, chasing starlings at Yorkshire Zoo, taken by keeper Zoe Brown
Wildebeest chasing curious giraffe calf getting too close at Knuthenborg Safari Park, Denmark, picture taken by Christina Christensen
Across the pond, Bryan Kao of the Bronx Zoo, New York City , caught a snap of a two-toed otter scratching its chin
Arctic wolves at Zoo du bois d’attilly, France, the photo was taken by Chloe Stamper
Meanwhile an adorable Rusty spotted cat at Bridlington animal park, was snapped by Chloe Stamper
Stanley the Californian Sea Lion at Yorkshire Wildlife Park ‘always enjoys helping with cleaning duties, especially when the hosepipe is involved’ says Charlotte Pywell who took the photograph
Inquisitive spotted laughingthrush at Newquay Zoo, photo taken by Tracey Twomey
Scottish Wildcat at Axe Valley Wildlife Park in East Devon picture taken by Medea Armstrong
Rocky the raccoon at Askham Bryan Wildlife Conservation Park, York, photo taken by Ryan Colman
A primeval-looking Lesser Adjutant Stork at Bronx Zoo, photo taken by Bryan Kao
Eland mother and calf at Knuthenborg Safari Park, Denmark picture taken by Christina Christensen
17 year-old N’Dowe the youngest gorilla at Paignton Zoo, Devon, who is the bossiest but also very gentle towards his keepers, photo taken by Miriam Haas
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