PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds. Clearly not bothered by their uncomfortable onlooker, the owls pucker up and put on a very public display of affection. This trio of Little Owls were photographed by Uzbek photographer Ilia Shalamaev, 36, after he spotted the scene on a trip to the town of Kiryat Gat, Israel. “Here you can see a family of owls playing and having fun on a branch, not far from their nesting place,” says Ilia, now of Beit Hashmonay, Israel.
WITH STUNNING colours and serene scenes, these photographs capture the otherworldly beauty of the English coast .
SITTING quietly at the edge of the lake, these two baby bears watch and learn as the adults hunt for fish .
An artist has transformed traditional Thanksgiving dinners into mini-masterpieces .
Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
In the calm waters of Greenland, gigantic icebergs dwarf everything around them .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
A tiny puppy who lost his front legs after being hit by a train has been given and new LEASH of life with a set of wheels .
A proud gorilla mum welcomes her newborn baby western lowland gorilla, a critically endangered species .