CARRYING a fully grown goat on his back, this five-year-old boy is a child shepherd in the mountains of northern Ethiopia. Away from modern civilization, children living in the Simien Mountains spend their gruelling days herding, or carrying, animals and walking miles through the rocky terrain. From the age of five these children are responsible for goats and sheep in the highlands and when they do rest, the boys and girls are schooled in classrooms made from mud, rocks and wood. German photographer Mario Gerth trekked 3,000 metres up the Ethiopian mountain range to visit this group of Tigray people and their hardy children and witness their unorthodox lifestyle.
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
FROM COLOURFUL autumn leaves to living trees at first glance you might miss these people blended with nature .
FLYING through the air, these delighted pooches pull their best poses mid-flight .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
PUCKERING up and enjoying some quality time, these are the most lovable monkeys on the planet .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
AT 4,800 metres high and just three metres wide, this is the most dangerous road in the world .
BASKING in smug satisfaction, a confident squirrel gives a wink to the camera .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
SNEAKING slowly into the water, this Bengal tiger plans a vicious attack on three unsuspecting deer .