WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES. The luminous green lights that glow from the insects help to give the impression of an extract from a fairy-tale. The magical photographs were taken by photographer Takaaki Ishikawa, 55, on a trip to Nagoya City in Japan. 'Fireflies are very delicate creatures, so it is important to not catch or disturb them,' said Takaaki
With an abandoned tricycle sitting in an empty corridor, this derelict but once grand mansion could be the setting for The Shining .
A BLIND man was battered with a brick in a sickening attack by two thugs .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
LEAPING for joy five-feet above the waves this baby whale cutie is saying HELLO to its family after being lost .
A US firefighter has battled osteoarthritis and four hip replacements to break the world paddleboarding record .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
A proud gorilla mum welcomes her newborn baby western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
SNUGGLING up against their teddy bears, these baby sloths could easily be mistaken for one of the cuddly toys .
A TEN-THOUSAND square foot wide Avatar-style grove is such a beauty it will leave you feeling VINE .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .