A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The magnificent mammals swim up to several boats full of tourists and get so close that the passengers can stroke the mother and baby whale. The special moment was photographed by lawyer Andrea Izzotti, 47, of Genovia, Italy. Andrea says: “The mother was milking her calf in shallow waters, but they are very curious animals and they came up to our boats to see the humans.
A doting seal smiles at her sweet little pup as she tickles its tummy on the beach .
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
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 .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
A Little owl looks down the lens of a camera and gives the photographer a cheeky wink .
HOPPING onto the scales, these adorable baby Humboldt penguins are ready for their first weigh-in .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
The dog having been pulled from the car - A police officer smashed a window in the blue Chrysler car to free the dog which was in visible distress .
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .