There’s a chimpanzee raising its middle finger to the lens, a red squirrel performing what looks like a kung fu kick and an enormous female praying mantis with the caption: “Husband? What husband?”

Go ape. Photograph: Gil Gofer/Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Entries are pinging into the inaugural Comedy Wildlife Photography awards, which will surely evolve into the Oscars of photography awards given that we are enjoying a golden age for creating and sharing funny animal pictures.

‘Husband? What husband?’ Photograph: Melissa Kay Valente/Comedy Wildlife Photography awards

The awards are the brainchild of wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks, who, in 20 years as a wildlife photographer based in Tanzania, has noticed that his bestselling images are seldom the most creative or beautiful compositions but the ones that make people laugh.

‘Laughing Moose.’ Photograph: Sami Rahkonen/Comedy Wildlife Photography awards

A judging panel of photographers, conservationists and comedians, including Hugh Dennis, Kate Humble and Will Travers, co-founder of the Born Free Foundation, will select 40 finalists after the competition closes at midnight on 1 October, before choosing a winner and two runners-up at an awards ceremony in London on 11 November.

Joynson-Hicks hopes that focusing on the joyous side of wild animals (pictures taken in zoos aren’t eligible) will encourage conservation efforts. “The news is so awful, especially in Tanzania, where the poaching situation is just desperate, but hopefully this competition will encourage people towards conservation rather than guilt-inducing them towards conservation,” he says.

Hey! Good looking. Photograph: Christina Alexander/Comedy Wildlife Photography awards

Points will be awarded for technical proficiency and a witty caption as well amusement value. Most of the entries so far are of mammals, reflecting the fact that we’re often tickled by creatures that remind us of ourselves, but front-runners include an amusing bird and “a couple of funny-shaped sponges”, reveals Joynson-Hicks.

The judges may be divided over a winner: Joynson-Hicks says he’s willing to be “boisterous” but thinks Travers is rather more sensitive to the dignity of wild animals and the fact that this isn’t an excuse to laugh at them.

Woodpecker flying with weasel on its back! Photograph: Martin Le May/Peter Lawson/East News Press Agency

Surely amateur photographer Martin Le-May’s snap of a weasel hitching a lift on a green woodpecker, which went viral earlier this year, is the favourite? “It’s an extraordinary image but let’s wait and see,” says Joynson-Hicks. “There are quite a few other very funny ones.”