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.
A BIKINI swim with jellyfish sounds like the most painful past-time on the planet .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
Say cheese! This cheeky chappy isn’t in the mood to live up to his scary reputation as he is pictured here cracking a killer smile as he goes about his daily business .
The aurora lights captured in Blair Nebraska, America - WITH electrifying purple and illuminous green brightening up the night sky, this is the rare moment a flash of 'sprite' lightening was captured on camera .
Swimming side by side with divers, these manatees will do anything they can to stay warm .
MAKING himself at home, this little snail perches happily on top of this frog's head .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
A tiny puppy who lost his front legs after being hit by a train has been given and new LEASH of life with a set of wheels .
VENTURING into the ocean with self-made spears and nets, the fishermen of Zanzibar put their lives on the line when they catch food for their families .
HUNDREDS of hot air balloons decorate the sky above Turkey as the rising sun illuminates the spectacular scenery below .