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.
LOCATIONS bursting with vibrant greens and chestnut browns, these photographs capture the peaceful English countryside in all its glory .
MOUTH OPEN wide, this little stoat appears to be in mid-song as he belts out a tune for his onlookers .
WITHOUT A care in the world, this little snow monkey puts his feet up and settles in for a snooze .
THIS DANGER-mad female pensioner could be the oldest Brit to cage dive with CROCODILES .
PERCHING on the edge of a flower, these loved-up caterpillars can't resist each other as they enjoy a romantic moment together .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
These photographs of extreme weather capture storms furiously rolling across the sky above America .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
The gunslingers are long gone and tumbleweeds have taken over at this abandoned American Wild West Theme Park in Cornwall .