A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy. Jacopo Rigotti, of Val Di Cembra, Trento, Italy, photographed the bird as she flew towards her nest, located in the trunk of a black pine tree, before feeding her hungry chicks a beakful of insects. The 25-year-old photographer says: "I decided to set up the camera on a tripod at the base of the tree, along with a flash that would help to prevent shadows in the photographs."
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
A hungry hippo is seconds away from catching a bird in its gigantic jaws .
Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
CCTV shows a dark figure dumping the dog- A pet dog suffering with cancer has been put down after being dumped at an animal rescue in what officials said is the worst abandonment of any animal they have witnessed .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
Ever wished you could live in a house just like Barbie's? Canadian sculptor Heather Benning has created the life-size dollhouse of her dreams out a derelict building .
This longhorn beetle demon-strates a dark side as it looks just like the devil .
