FLAMINGOS from above look like the pink algae they eat. Aerial shots of some of the TWO-MILLION pink flying birds that gather to feed in the world's largest desert lake resemble the type of tiny pink microbes they eat and give them their distinctive pink colour. But if you look a little closer you'll see the fantastic feathered creatures skimming gently over the serene waters of Lake Turkana in Kenya's spectacular Rift Valley. Travel photographer Michael Poliza, 55, from Hamburg in Germany travelled to the great lakes of Kenya and Tanzania to take these extraordinary pictures of Africa from above. 'These lakes are each an absolute flamingo paradise,' he said.
THIS is the shocking moment a clumsy radio newsreader plunged into a freezing canal while texting her boyfriend instead of looking where she was going .
Swimming side by side with divers, these manatees will do anything they can to stay warm .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
NEVER mind being careful not to choke on your food, this mother bird has a bigger challenge on her hands, as her ravenous offspring impatiently launches its head down into her stomach .
VENTURING into the ocean with self-made spears and nets, the fishermen of Zanzibar put their lives on the line when they catch food for their families .
A BIKINI swim with jellyfish sounds like the most painful past-time on the planet .
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
A chipmunk, with his cheeks full to bursting, has no intention of leaving with an empty stomach .
With their guts spewing and eyes hanging out, these are the cuddly toys children might be reluctant to curl up to .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .