CARRYING a fully grown goat on his back, this five-year-old boy is a child shepherd in the mountains of northern Ethiopia. Away from modern civilization, children living in the Simien Mountains spend their gruelling days herding, or carrying, animals and walking miles through the rocky terrain. From the age of five these children are responsible for goats and sheep in the highlands and when they do rest, the boys and girls are schooled in classrooms made from mud, rocks and wood. German photographer Mario Gerth trekked 3,000 metres up the Ethiopian mountain range to visit this group of Tigray people and their hardy children and witness their unorthodox lifestyle.
THESE LOVE BIRDS can’t keep their beaks off each other as they share a very public display of affection .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
Pic By HotSpot Media - PARROT RIDES ON THE TUBE - THIS pretty boy could be forgiven for forgetting his Oyst-aaarrrgh-card .
LIKE SUPERMAN carrying a slimy Lois Lane through the air this frog is treating its mate to a flying lesson .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
THIS is the incredible moment a pelican throws a fish into the air and SLAM DUNKS it into its enormous throat sack .
A pair of adorable polar bear cubs play-fight with each other in the Alaskan snow .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .