DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast. Bobbing its head as it moves through the frosty grass, the adorable creature darts and leaps across the field as it searches for the perfect meal. The delightful animal was photographed by Swiss student Etienne Francey as he watched the stoat play in fields in his hometown of Cousset in Switzerland. The 17-year-old says: ‘Cycling along a country road near my house one snowy day, I was startled to see a stoat run across the road in front of me.
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
A proud gorilla mum welcomes her newborn baby western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
Raising his arms above his head and lying flat on his back, a polar bear stretches as he sprawls out across the ice .
Hot on the heels of a little rabbit, this cheetah is on a mission to catch his prey .
Exploding out of the water, a great white shark performs a backflip during a hunt for seals .
A diving guide leaves a shark completely docile and balanced in the palm of his hand .
A blanket of fog is lit up by the colourful glowing lights of the city below .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
CLINGING onto nothing but ice, this brave climber reaches heights of 1000 FEET as he scales frozen solid waterfalls .