WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow. The groundhog takes a moment to stretch before quickly becoming aware that he's not alone. The adorable scene was captured in the Tonale Pass, a high mountain pass in Trentino Alto Adige, Italy, by freelance photographer Maurizio Lancini. The 39-year-old, of Rodengo Saiano, Brescia, Italy, says:"I spotted the entrance to the burrow so decided to hide nearby and wait for the groundhog to appear.
Peering curiously into a basket hanging off the arms of a snowman, this little squirrel appears fascinated by the snowy figure .
RESTING his weary head on his flipper, this little seal pup takes a much needed nap after an afternoon of strenuous yoga .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish .
IN a galaxy far, far away, this collection of stunning interstellar formations will leave you STARSTRUCK .
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .
Staring death in the face, a little field mouse bravely confronts a hungry cat .
A project to create an underwater tribute to the stone Moai statues of Easter Island ended in disaster when 15 replica structures were destroyed after toppling from a boat and into the sea .
SOARING through the air, a hungry white-tailed kite prepares to snatch a vole from his mother’s claws .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .