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 blanket of fog is lit up by the colourful glowing lights of the city below .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
Sitting all alone on drift ice in the Arctic Ocean, this lonely little fella looks lost .
WITHOUT a care in the world, this little chimpanzee shows off her gymnastic skills as she swings around her enclosure .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
A hypnotherapist filmed himself sexually abusing a 19-year-old patient while she was in a trance-like state .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
This brave Hyena finally catches his pray among the thousands of flamingos, Lake Nakuru, Kenya - OUTNUMBERED among thousands of flamingos, this bold hyena is not put off from hunting for a morning snack .
Scurrying along the branch of a tree, a little squirrel pushes a pram packed full of Easter treats .