A manatee makes the most of his underwater guests by rolling onto his back for a belly rub. The manatee appears apprehensive at first, but he soon cosies up to the divers. The photographs were taken by marine biologist Andrew Pearson in Crystal River, Florida at the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge. The 32 year old photographer, of Southampton, says: ‘We spent several days snorkelling with wild manatees.
A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
WITH his spiked ears and yellow and blue body, a colourful monkey bears an uncanny resemblance to Marvel Comics’ Wolverine .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
BALANCING 30 metres above ground, these slackliners take the expression of living dangerously one step further, by tightrope walking NAKED .
This tranquil setting stretches for miles as the sun sets behind the mountain .
WELCOME to the Temple of Zoom where you can “experience” sliding down a Mayan temple into shark infested waters .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .