Some parents would gasp at the thought of their children playing with a toy gun, but these Russian children are actually encouraged to take up real arms. Military sports club, ‘Berkut’, (meaning golden eagle), trains up tiny Vlads and Boris’, who dream of joining the elite units of the Russian army and fighting under the command of President Vladimir Putin. Pictured on their website brandishing a hand gun, is a young boy, dressed in military fatigues with his finger over the trigger. Children as young a five are sent on forced marches, given battlefield training, taught hand to hand combat, and how to use military equipment. 12 year olds are also taught to fire Kalashnikov assault rifles and other small arms. During the clubs regular camps some children are given the opportunity to parachute jump during their paratrooper training. The club based in Zhukovsky, Russia, claims to provide military training designed to develop the younger generation of the “motherland” - a term synonymous with the former Soviet Union and the communist rule of the last century.
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
These are the men with one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
An aerial view of flooding in Gloucestershire .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
WITH his spiked ears and yellow and blue body, a colourful monkey bears an uncanny resemblance to Marvel Comics’ Wolverine .
MOUTH OPEN wide, this little stoat appears to be in mid-song as he belts out a tune for his onlookers .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
Pic By HotSpot Media - PARROT RIDES ON THE TUBE - THIS pretty boy could be forgiven for forgetting his Oyst-aaarrrgh-card .