Laughter is the best medicine. If you are in need of a giggle, check out the 40 finalists in this year's Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards contest. 

Warning - you will probably laugh out loud at a few of these. 

This annual contest is one of my favorites as the finalists gallery makes me laugh and leaves me in awe. I don't know how the judges decide finalists out of hundreds of entries, but they did. 

Photography and wildlife experts make up the panel of judges who will now closely examine each shot to find the winners of nine categories that covers all animal species. 

There is also a People's Choice Award which is based on (you guessed it) the votes of people like you. The rules are simple, people can vote for their favorite photo through October 31st. The winners of all categories will be announced on December 10. 

But that's not all. Just by voting you will be entered in a drawing to win £500 (roughly $653). Sounds like a win-win. 

The goal of the global contest is to spread joy, marvel at amazing shots, and conservation of these fascinating animals. That is why each year the founders of The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards donates 10% of total net revenue to their UK charity partner Whitley Fund for Nature. 

"Comedy Wildlife was born from the need for a wildlife photography competition that was light-hearted, unpretentious and importantly, could make a difference to animals and our natural world.  Its founders realised that laughter was a uniquely effective tool to engage audiences of all ages and cultures with images of creatures they may never be able to see for themselves – and that the world could lose forever."

Check out all of the finalists here and don't forget to vote!