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.
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
PUCKERING up and enjoying some quality time, these are the most lovable monkeys on the planet .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
HUNDREDS of hot air balloons decorate the sky above Turkey as the rising sun illuminates the spectacular scenery below .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
This is the amazing moment two white-tailed kites take an in-flight meal - exchanging prey at 100 foot high in mid air .
SAILING peacefully across a river in the early morning light, a fisherman in China keeps a 1000 year old tradition alive .
DINING under the stars, this restaurant takes you back in time - inside an ancient cave .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
IN a galaxy far, far away, this collection of stunning interstellar formations will leave you STARSTRUCK .