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.
LUMINOUS green rocks could easily be a beach from Superman's homeland of Krypton .
A toddler has shrugged off death an incredible 10 times thanks to his parents who revive him with the kiss of life every two weeks .
THROWING himself off 1,100ft bridges in a wheelchair, this is the PARALYSED base jumper who knows no fear .
An adorable black bear cub struggles to find the perfect spot for an afternoon nap as he wriggles around on the branch of a maple tree .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
GETTING behind the camera, this monkey practices his photography skills on his friends .
SOARING through the air, a hungry white-tailed kite prepares to snatch a vole from his mother’s claws .
Surveying its surroundings, a tiny harvest mouse climbs the stem of a dandelion .
Clinging on to their furry backs, mischievous monkeys appeared to enjoy the free transport as they rode around on a perturbed Capybara .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .
