LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish. The photographs, taken off the coast of Isla Mujeres, near Cancun, Mexico, show how these water creatures work cooperatively to cut off a portion of a school of sardines swimming close to the seafloor, and drive them to the surface. American photographer Doug Perrine, 60, managed to capture the moment the sailfish manage to herd the bait into a tightly packed ball, ready to pick off for dinner one-by-one. ‘The sailfish took-turns swimming through the bait ball slashing with their bills to kill the fish, which are quickly gobbled up,’ Doug said. ‘Sometimes they light up or change to a bright colour pattern.
An adorable black bear cub struggles to find the perfect spot for an afternoon nap as he wriggles around on the branch of a maple tree .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .
A trout manages to escape the jaws of a hungry cormorant - only to find itself back inside the bird's long beak .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
Primed and ready for action, this collection of striking images from the battlefield could be mistaken for authentic photos taking during World War II .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
CONTRASTING settings reveal some of England’s most beautiful landscapes in all their glory .
