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.
HUDDLING under a leaf, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls take shelter from the rain .
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .
At first glance what might look like ordinary rusty bridge and road railings, are in fact amazing works of art .
THE CRAZE for mimicking the video game Streetfighter has spread to the streets of London .
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .
SOARING through the air, a hungry white-tailed kite prepares to snatch a vole from his mother’s claws .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
WIDE EYED and staring straight down the lens of the camera, this intrigued seal is ready for his close up .
Here's a collection of art for the DIGIT-AL age as these fascinating illusions of landmarks, places and even a banana are made using just a pair of hands .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
These are the men with one of the most unpleasant jobs in the world .