Throwing a right hook as he launches onto his opponent with his gnarling teeth at the ready, this is the OTTER-LY ruthless showdown between two otters .

WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .

ROLLING across a 65-metre-high viaduct in the Alps, the red carriages of the Bernina Express add a splash of colour to the spectacular snow-covered Swiss surroundings .

WEARING tiny Christmas accessories, these adorable babies get into the spirit of the season .

STARING eagerly into the camera, this little toad is full of curiosity .

ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .

SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .

This cheeky macaque gets up close and personal as he examines the dental hygiene of his fellow primate .

BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .

WITHOUT a care in the world, this little chimpanzee shows off her gymnastic skills as she swings around her enclosure .

SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .

TOMORROW (Saturday) marks the 28th anniversary of the nuclear disaster that left the city of Chernobyl devastated .