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.
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
These are the men with one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
IN THE not so MISTY MOUNTAINS of Wiltshire, there lies an abandoned hobbit house .
A BEAUTIFUL sight for the eyes and the imagination, these liquid sculptures take shape in many different colours and formations .
SLEEPING within touching distance of wild African animals might not be everyone's idea of a relaxing break .
A pair of snarling foxes go paw-to-paw and brawl after unexpectedly crossing paths .
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
ARM extended and head flung back, this little chipmunk performs a loose-limbed yoga move .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .