Even the monkeys are laughing as Europe’s zookeepers share their funniest photos of the year

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Zoo owners from across Europe have shared their funny photos of the animal of the year in an annual competition.

The amazing photographs were taken from zoos and wildlife parks in the UK, France and Denmark.

The unofficial competition is hosted on the Zoo Keepers Europe Facebook page, which has 14,500 participants from across the continent.

The UK’s best entries included a cheeky laughing Barbary macaque from Colchester Zoo, a shocked lemur from West Lothian and a stunning snow leopard from the Scottish Highlands.

Sagro, a Barbary macaque living at Colchester Zoo, has a cheeky smile.  His zookeeper Lisa Davis captured this hilarious photo of him grinning at the camera.

Sagro, a Barbary macaque living at Colchester Zoo, has a cheeky smile. His zookeeper Lisa Davis captured this hilarious photo of him grinning at the camera.

This red panda closed her eyes in happiness as she sniffed flowers at Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian in a picture taken by Ryan Coleman.

This red panda closed her eyes in happiness as she sniffed flowers at Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian in a picture taken by Ryan Coleman.

Zookeeper Joanna Birch photographed two white rhinos who appeared to be having sex at Colchester Zoo this year.

Zookeeper Joanna Birch photographed two white rhinos who appeared to be having sex at Colchester Zoo this year.

ZSL London Zoo's dwarf mongoose Gulid looked curiously into the lens of zookeeper Ruth Sutherland, who took this adorable photo.

ZSL London Zoo’s dwarf mongoose Gulid looked curiously into the lens of zookeeper Ruth Sutherland, who took this adorable photo.

Millie Sewell took this photo of Blossom, a curious European badger living at the British Wildlife Center in East Surrey.

Rodriguez's fruit bat at the Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Park near Sheffield likes to hang out upside down, as seen in this photograph taken by Ellie Latham.

Millie Sewell took the photo to the left of Blossom, a curious European badger living at the British Wildlife Center in East Surrey. “She has a little wonky nose due to a car accident before she was rescued as a cub,” Ms Sewell said. Rodriguez’s fruit bat at the Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Park near Sheffield likes to hang out upside down, as seen in the photo on the right by Ellie Latham.

Howler monkey Mayanthu was caught by zookeeper Lorena Hota Hickey as she stuffed a watermelon into her mouth at Beauval Zoo in France.

Howler monkey Mayanthu was caught by zookeeper Lorena Hota Hickey as she stuffed a watermelon into her mouth at Beauval Zoo in France.

These adorable Arctic wolf cubs were captured by Christina Christensen while they were playing at Knutenborg Safari Park in Denmark.

These adorable Arctic wolf cubs were captured by Christina Christensen while they were playing at Knutenborg Safari Park in Denmark.

Judith Bowman took this mesmerizing photograph of a snow leopard at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Black hornbill Bellatrix looks curiously at Natalie Marshall's camera at Bird World in Farnham.

Judith Bowman took a mesmerizing photo to the left of a snow leopard at the Highland Wildlife Park. Black hornbill Bellatrix (right) looks curiously at Natalie Marshall’s camera at Bird World in Farnham.

The shocked ring-tailed lemur was caught by zookeeper Ryan Coleman at Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian.

The shocked ring-tailed lemur was caught by zookeeper Ryan Coleman at Five Sisters Zoo in West Lothian.

Green Kwanza's crowned crane took a stance as he was photographed by Zoe Michelle Cropper at Noah's Ark Farm in Clevedon.

Green Kwanza’s crowned crane took a stance as he was photographed by Zoe Michelle Cropper at Noah’s Ark Farm in Clevedon.

Ash and Friston, Eurasian lynxes, showed off their roar to Emma Reekie at Drusillas Park in Sussex.

Eden Willmott took this photo of Little Miss Baby, a rescued harbor seal pup at the Natureland seal sanctuary in Skegness.

Eurasian lynxes Ash and Friston (left) showed off their roar to Emma Rickey at Drusillas Park in Sussex. Eden Willmott was photographed to the right of Little Miss Baby, a rescued harbor seal pup at Natureland Seal Sanctuary in Skegness.