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.
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .
CLIMBING, falling and tugging on his weary mum, this little orangutan is up to all kinds of trouble .
CAUSING a splash, this determined kingfisher goes hunting for dinner .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
Peering curiously into a basket hanging off the arms of a snowman, this little squirrel appears fascinated by the snowy figure .
LUMINOUS green rocks could easily be a beach from Superman's homeland of Krypton .
A once bustling gold rush town in Mono County, California now stands completed deserted .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .
CAMPED out in the middle of a forest, these unusual hut hotels take you back to basics .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .