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.
RAISING his flipper, this two day old seal pup gives a wave to the camera .
A hypnotherapist filmed himself sexually abusing a 19-year-old patient while she was in a trance-like state .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
AN ARRAY of colours, from pinks to blues and oranges, fill the night sky to create an amazing collection of interstellar patterns .
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 .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
A pair of snarling foxes go paw-to-paw and brawl after unexpectedly crossing paths .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH AR' KID: A POSTAL SORTER has perfected the art of time travel by delivering images that are from the past .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
AN ANGRY giraffe gave a bush-riding cyclist a scare when he stomped his £2K bike into the dirt .