WITH SNOW COVERING the ground around them, these two polar bears play fight. Playing in minus six degrees temperatures, the juvenile males stand on their hind legs as they trade blows in their light-hearted battle. These adorable photographs were captured by American photographer Barbara Motter, 55, after she spotted the two bears play fighting in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. ‘This is where the polar bears congregate, waiting for the Hudson Bay to freeze and their winter hunting season to begin,’ says the 55 year old, of Maryland.
RAISING his flipper, this two day old seal pup gives a wave to the camera .
SLEEPING within touching distance of wild African animals might not be everyone's idea of a relaxing break .
BALANCING on top of a tree, this bear cub puts her climbing skills to the test .
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 .
Like a scene from a fairytale, THOUSANDS of fireflies create an enchanting glow as they dance in a forest .
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
POPE MOBBED BY THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS IN RIO - Thousands of worshippers gather to celebrate the Papal visit on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
A photographer has captured spellbinding images of stars swirling above the English countryside .
GIANT garden sculptures don't beat about the bush .