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.
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
COURAGEOUS CLIMBERS scale frozen waterfalls in Canada, as the ice threatens to collapse beneath them .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
SURROUNDED by divers, a hungry green sea turtle enjoys being the centre of attention .
SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .
A baby sperm whale assumed the role of a friendly giant when faced with two awestruck divers .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .
A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
A grand 56-bedroom hotel, once heaving with injured soldiers during the First World War, now lies completely abandoned .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .