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.
PUCKERING up and enjoying some quality time, these are the most lovable monkeys on the planet .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .
An adorable little squirrel wakes from a nap and pops out his tongue for the camera .
SITTING on a burning sofa unable to move, one man turns his terrifying dreams into reality .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
Exploding out of the water, a great white shark performs a backflip during a hunt for seals .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
BURSTING from the water, a beautiful but deadly Sumatran tiger jumps for food in an Indonesian zoo .
BEAUTIFULLY lit by the dim glow of lanterns, a cave in Iceland is transformed into the perfect wedding venue .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .