LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish. The photographs, taken off the coast of Isla Mujeres, near Cancun, Mexico, show how these water creatures work cooperatively to cut off a portion of a school of sardines swimming close to the seafloor, and drive them to the surface. American photographer Doug Perrine, 60, managed to capture the moment the sailfish manage to herd the bait into a tightly packed ball, ready to pick off for dinner one-by-one. ‘The sailfish took-turns swimming through the bait ball slashing with their bills to kill the fish, which are quickly gobbled up,’ Doug said. ‘Sometimes they light up or change to a bright colour pattern.
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
DIVING boffins fired harpoons into 30-foot-long whale sharks in a bid to put the sea-beasts on Google Maps .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
From vibrant blues to dazzling oranges, these eye catching hummingbirds proudly show off their impressive colours .
A terrified moose, trapped in a frozen lake, bobs her head above the icey water and awaits her rescue .
SURROUNDED by divers, a hungry green sea turtle enjoys being the centre of attention .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
The claws come out at meal time as a group of white tailed eagles brawl over road-kill .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .
A pair of adorable polar bear cubs play-fight with each other in the Alaskan snow .
LOCATIONS bursting with vibrant greens and chestnut browns, these photographs capture the peaceful English countryside in all its glory .