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.
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
A diver attempts to control rising numbers of lionfish by feeding the venomous species to Caribbean reef sharks .
WRAPPED up in classy headscarves, these adorable pooches are the picture of sophistication .
WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .
AT 4,800 metres high and just three metres wide, this is the most dangerous road in the world .
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 .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
A lazy otter finds the ideal spot to soak up the sun and sleep off his lunch .
Primed and ready for action, this collection of striking images from the battlefield could be mistaken for authentic photos taking during World War II .
BALANCING 30 metres above ground, these slackliners take the expression of living dangerously one step further, by tightrope walking NAKED .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .