A proud stag attempts to impress the females by donning an enormous fern headdress in London's Bushy Park. Pictured at the beginning of rutting season, the stag can barely see through a mass of leaves tangled in his antlers as he parades around a small group of deer. The scene was photographed by accountant Val Saxby during an early morning visit to the park, located in Richmond upon Thames in south-west London. The 55-year-old, of Shaftesbury, Dorset, says: “I spotted the stag with six females amongst an avenue of trees in the park."
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
With their guts spewing and eyes hanging out, these are the cuddly toys children might be reluctant to curl up to .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .
WITH their robotic movements and pristine uniforms, these are the sexy traffic girls of North Korea that are becoming iconic figures in the secretive state .
HOPPING onto the scales, these adorable baby Humboldt penguins are ready for their first weigh-in .
BASKING in smug satisfaction, a confident squirrel gives a wink to the camera .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
An Italian photographer travelled to northern India where he visited poverty stricken suburbs and captured ordinary people in a series of intimate and expressive portraits .