DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast. Bobbing its head as it moves through the frosty grass, the adorable creature darts and leaps across the field as it searches for the perfect meal. The delightful animal was photographed by Swiss student Etienne Francey as he watched the stoat play in fields in his hometown of Cousset in Switzerland. The 17-year-old says: ‘Cycling along a country road near my house one snowy day, I was startled to see a stoat run across the road in front of me.
SURROUNDED by divers, a hungry green sea turtle enjoys being the centre of attention .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
SQUABBLING over the last piece of grain, these hungry squirrels are determined to stock up on as much food as possible .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
A once bustling gold rush town in Mono County, California now stands completed deserted .
TUGGING on the wing of his sibling, this needy owl is after some attention .
At least three people have been killed and more than 100 injured, some seriously, in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon .
A proud gorilla mum welcomes her newborn baby western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species .
WRAPPED up in classy headscarves, these adorable pooches are the picture of sophistication .
A family of foster carers are facing bankruptcy and homelessness after they signed up to a Government scheme to renovate their house to be used for disabled children's short breaks .