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.
With their guts spewing and eyes hanging out, these are the cuddly toys children might be reluctant to curl up to .
A NINJA red squirrel cuts a dashing figure as the little fella jumps up to ten-feet between treetops in the Yorkshire Dales .
IN a galaxy not so far away lies a magical display of lights that could be the latest image from NASA .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
PAWS for thought as you feast your eyes on this rare bear bathing session .
A trio of ants are locked in a tug of war over a fly as they pull the bug by its legs .
THIS is the awesome moment an Osprey catches its prey travelling at 50mph, giving new meaning to FAST FOOD .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
MOUTH OPEN wide, this little stoat appears to be in mid-song as he belts out a tune for his onlookers .
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .