A grey whale and her calf greet an audience of awestruck admirers on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The magnificent mammals swim up to several boats full of tourists and get so close that the passengers can stroke the mother and baby whale. The special moment was photographed by lawyer Andrea Izzotti, 47, of Genovia, Italy. Andrea says: “The mother was milking her calf in shallow waters, but they are very curious animals and they came up to our boats to see the humans.
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .
THIS astonishing film shows the moment a hit-and-run driver ploughed into a woman and a toddler on a Coventry street .
A Gary Barlow superfan has lost an incredible 11st after a selfie with the pop star left her horrified by her 22st 9lb figure .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
A miracle baby has overcome a one-in-five-million brain condition – after a blob of glue saved his life .
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .
BLOWING bubbles underwater, this adorable polar bear slides into his tank for a playful dip .
Fishermen in Myanmar have perfected an unusual fishing technique by carefully balancing on one leg .
A ROAD KILL munching Scot has chewed on everything from a dead squirrel to an unlucky crow – all in the name of art .
A care worker who broke her spine after jumping from a window to escape a sex attack at the hands of a resident has called for tougher safety measures to protect care staff .
A lazy tree frog, tired of hopping along a branch, chooses the slowest form of transport when it jumps on top of an unsuspecting snail .