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.
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
A BAMBI was dramatically caught in mid-air by a greedy Nile crocodile in a once-in-a-million flying pincer move .
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for this greedy camel he can't get enough of his morning feed, as he gate crashes his owner's mealtime .
These uninvited guests ELEPHANTLY make their annual trip through the reception of this welcoming lodge .
A lazy otter finds the ideal spot to soak up the sun and sleep off his lunch .
A carefree bear cub reclines in the water with his feet raised in the air .
CONTRASTING settings reveal some of England’s most beautiful landscapes in all their glory .