COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice. The ice emits a blue glow as the climbers make their way down and move through the glacier. The stunning photographs were captured by American glacier trekking guide Jared Carlson on a trip to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. The 36-year-old was joined by climbing friend Jason Nelson, 37, as the pair explored the moulin, which is a circular, vertical well-like shaft within a glacier.
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
STAIRWAY obsessed photographers have captured psychedelic shots that will mesmerise you .
Swimming side by side with divers, these manatees will do anything they can to stay warm .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
A pair of chicks bravely decided to befriend a python, despite being the snake's favourite choice of food .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state .
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .