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.
SPLASHING in the water and fighting in-between rocks, these energetic tigers enjoy their fun-filled morning .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
A dog was SOW close to death after she dangerously swallowed a two-inch NEEDLE-Cute Shih Tzu Daisy could have pierced her intestines after eating the long needle and thread after finding it on the carpet .
THESE are the Disney Princesses you wouldn't want to run into in a dark alley .
MOUTH OPEN wide, this little stoat appears to be in mid-song as he belts out a tune for his onlookers .
Swirling water and sand create amazing aerial images of river deltas across Iceland .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
DINING under the stars, this restaurant takes you back in time - inside an ancient cave .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
POPE MOBBED BY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS IN RIO - Thousands of worshippers gather to celebrate the Papal visit on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil .
A doting seal smiles at her sweet little pup as she tickles its tummy on the beach .