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.
Going for long rides through vast fields together, this twosome share an unbreakable bond .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - FUNKY BUMP: FROM MIRROR bellies to rainbow bumps these pregnancy casts of stone and bronze could be the funkiest way to preserve your bump for posterity .
An Australian beach is illuminated by an enticing neon blue glow as a rare phenomenon lights up the water .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
COVERING themselves in ash and face paint, these are the holy men who live their lives away from everyday society .
A group of otters put on a show of aqua aerobics, as they raise their flippers perfectly in sync .
A chipmunk, with his cheeks full to bursting, has no intention of leaving with an empty stomach .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
WITH the mystical clouds forming a thick blanket and the electrifying lights below, these stunning pictures provide a unique view of the cityscape of Dubai taken from the tallest building in the world .