Your Monday survival kit: Animal bloopers, social hacks, and driving dogs

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The year wildlife got hilarious: Why 2015 still reigns supreme

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards have been delivering animal LOLs for a decade but one year stands paws and tails above the rest.

Every year, the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards remind us that nature has a sense of humor. Since 2015, these delightful snapshots of animals mid-blunder, mid-expression, or mid-“what even is happening?” have become a beloved tradition.

But here’s the thing: for our money, nothing tops the original. That first year? Pure magic. A vintage. The Mona Lisa of monkey mischief. The 2015 collection wasn’t just funny, it was transcendent.

Maybe it was beginner’s luck. Maybe the animal kingdom just knew it was their moment. Either way, we got a lineup that’s been making people laugh (and cry-laugh) for a full decade. Among the classics:

🐧 A penguin pretending nothing happened (it definitely did)
🦉 A Snowy Owl channeling its inner snow angel
🦊 A fox caught in a full-on "I forgot how legs work" moment
🐒 Two monkeys that really need a “Do Not Disturb” sign
🐻 A bear questioning the meaning of existence… probably on a Monday

These aren’t just funny photos, they’re proof that comedy is universal, and sometimes nature’s best punchlines come with paws, wings, or flippers.

So if you’re looking for a guaranteed mood lift or some inspiration for your own wildlife snaps, click through for the greatest hits from the year animal comedy peaked.

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“Let’s teach the dogs to drive cars,” someone must have had the audacity to suggest in a meeting

The SPCA needed a way to prove these abandoned dogs were worthy of adoption, and I guess this approach is as good as any.

As Ian Malcolm famously said in Jurassic Park, “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should,” and now there are dogs driving around a town in New Zealand.

Yes, actual dogs. Behind the wheel. Paw on the gear shift. Probably listening to a lot of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

It started as a bold PR move: train shelter dogs to drive specially rigged cars, film it, and prove to the world that these pups weren’t just adoptable, they were exceptional.

Turns out, teaching a dog to parallel park can teach the world a lesson about second chances. Adoption rates soared. The public was floored. And the footage? Completely unmissable.

Too tired to be charming? Let your posture do the work.

5 body language hacks that make you way more likable (even on a Monday)

First impressions are brutal. People size you up in milliseconds, and if you’re running on three hours of sleep, a broken coffee machine, and a slow spiral into existential dread... well, your vibes might be off.

Good news: You can tweak your body language to fake inner peace and charm like a pro. Master these five moves and you’ll come off as way more likable even if your brain is still screaming.

1. Master the glance, not the stare
Eye contact = confidence. Death stare = horror movie. Aim for the 50/70 rule: make eye contact 50% of the time when speaking, 70% when listening. Pretend you're listening to your crush describe their weekend. That’s the sweet spot.

2. Uncross those limbs
Arms crossed? You look closed off. Legs crossed? Same. Keep things relaxed and open. Face the person you’re talking to like they’re about to hand you free tacos.

3. Smile with your eyes
A real smile (aka Duchenne smile) reaches your eyes. If you're feeling dead inside, think of a dog driving a car. Boom, genuine joy. Bonus: it actually makes you feel better, too.

4. Subtle mimicry = instant bond
People love people who are like them. So mirror their gestures a bit, just don’t turn it into performance art. Small shifts build trust fast. It’s science.

5. Lean in (gently)
Slightly tilting toward someone says, “I’m into this convo.” Just don’t hover like you’re about to share a secret code. Respect the bubble.

Body language is your Monday morning social armor. Use it well and you might just trick everyone, including yourself, into thinking you’re thriving.

From the friend group text…

This video is 3 seconds long. I’ve watched it 2,500 times. There’s a snowboarder? Teaching math? A kid named Earl blurs past like he’s breaking the time barrier? Someone or something is chasing him? You won’t get answers. You will lose an hour.

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