STARING eagerly into the camera, this little toad is full of curiosity. He bobs his eyes above the water and surveys the scene, ready for his close-up. These photographs were captured by French marine biologist Mathieu Foulquie, 39, after he spotted the friendly toad in the resurgence of a little river near Montpellier, France. Mathieu, of Montpellier, France, was investigating underwater in a river named 'la Bueges' when he put his hand on the river bed and the toad grabbed his fingers.
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
DIPPING his head into the vase of water, this little squirrel takes a refreshing break from an afternoon of eating .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals .
THIS alien-like bug would look more at home in outer-space but it can actually be found wriggling around here on Earth .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
WITHOUT A care in the world, this little snow monkey puts his feet up and settles in for a snooze .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
15-foot-long great white sharks on the hunt, in False Bay, South Africa - SHOCK and awe pictures of 15-foot-long great whites on the hunt will leave you stunned .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .