BEAR CUBS AND DOTING MUM

A little brown bear cub shows his doting mum that she is always on parent duty as he uses her as a scratching post. These adorable photographs of two playful bear cubs and their watchful mum were captured by American nature photographer D. Robert Franz, 56, on a visit to Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. 'What we see in these photographs is the interaction between the mother brown bear and her two cubs,' says D. Robert, of Cody, Wyoming.

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These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .

SCULPTURES THAT WILL LEAF YOU SPEECHLESS

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COLOURFUL FROGS PRACTICE THEIR FROG CRAWL

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HIDDEN HIMALAYAN FESTIVAL

A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .

CHEEKY CHIPMUNK

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POPE MOBBED BY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS IN RIO

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MOON ART

From shooting hoops to performing kick ups, a boy has a ball with the moon .

A-PAW-ABLE SHELTER DOGS POSE IN THE HOPE OF FINDING FOREVER HOMES

WE’RE all familiar with the heart-wrenching pictures of dogs abandoned in animal shelters, but one photographer has found an innovative way of showcasing the pooch’s personality .

KINGFISHERS DIVE FOR THEIR DINNER

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THIRD WHEEL OWL

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DOG WITH A BONE

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