Most people have an angel at the top of their Christmas tree, but one bear at Chester Zoo decided he wanted to be the star of the show. Climbing right to the top of the tree, the zoo’s spectacled bear Bernardo can often be seen relaxing with his head in the clouds. Four-year-old Bernardo moved to the zoo after travelling from Tulsa Zoo in Oklahoma. Tim Rowlands, the zoo’s curator of mammals said: “An exchange of animals between the USA and Europe doesn’t happen very often at all, which makes Bernardo even more special to us here at the zoo.
Throwing their arms up in the air, these energetic squirrels play a game of ball with a walnut .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
A diver attempts to control rising numbers of lionfish by feeding the venomous species to Caribbean reef sharks .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
LIFTING their heads high and bumping beaks, these aggressive pelicans clash over fish .
LINED up one by one on a deer’s back, these little birds give their wings a break as they catch a ride across London .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .