LYING back in the snow, these two polar bears share a cuddle as they call time out on playtime. The brother and sister embrace with a friendly hug, as they catch their breath after a busy afternoon. These adorable photographs were captured by Russian photographer Alexey Tishchenko, 43, after his love of wildlife and nature led him into photography. Pictured in Churchill, Canada, these images capture the cute relationship between these two bears perfectly. 'These young polar bears are brother and sister,' explains Alexey.
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
DASHING through the snow, this little stoat is on the lookout for a Christmas feast .
A BEAUTIFUL sight for the eyes and the imagination, these liquid sculptures take shape in many different colours and formations .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
TENNIS was a game made for three according to the first Victorian rule book .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
A Brit photographer has captured one of the world's most camera-shy species of fish - during a game of underwater peek-a-boo .
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
CCTV shows a dark figure dumping the dog- A pet dog suffering with cancer has been put down after being dumped at an animal rescue in what officials said is the worst abandonment of any animal they have witnessed .
BRAIDED, sculpted and beaded, these are the eye-catching hairstyles worn by the tribal women of Angola .