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.
A doting seal smiles at her sweet little pup as she tickles its tummy on the beach .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
FULL OF STUNNING colours and swirling shapes, the furrows on these fields create a mix of mesmerising patterns .
PAWS for thought as you feast your eyes on this rare bear bathing session .
BURSTING from the water, a beautiful but deadly Sumatran tiger jumps for food in an Indonesian zoo .
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
TUGGING at his exhausted mum's ears, a beautiful baby orangutan refuses to settle for a nap as he begins a game of peek-a-boo .
FROM KISSING an alligator on the nose to walking over broken glass, this fearless daredevil is a real life female JACKASS .
A diver attempts to control rising numbers of lionfish by feeding the venomous species to Caribbean reef sharks .
WITH the mystical clouds forming a thick blanket and the electrifying lights below, these stunning pictures provide a unique view of the cityscape of Dubai taken from the tallest building in the world .
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .