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.
A lazy otter finds the ideal spot to soak up the sun and sleep off his lunch .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
A group of otters put on a show of aqua aerobics, as they raise their flippers perfectly in sync .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
BREATHING life back into old photographs, these black and white images are transformed by colour .
Like a scene from a fairytale, THOUSANDS of fireflies create an enchanting glow as they dance in a forest .
SAT ON top of a Brazilian turtle’s head, this little ladybird looks content as he studies his environment from a new height .
WIDE EYED and staring straight down the lens of the camera, this intrigued seal is ready for his close up .
WELCOME to the 125 decibel boombox bus that could damage your hearing if you party too close to its giant speakers .
A carefree bear cub reclines in the water with his feet raised in the air .
WITH SNOW COVERING the ground around them, these two polar bears play fight .