Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions. The porcupines, after leaving their spikey mark, hurry away from the pack of big cats. But they are unable to escape when the pride's alpha male lion arrives and devours the retreating spine covered rodents. Amateur photographer and software tester Philip Eglise witness the battle during a trip to the Kalahari Desert, South Africa .
LYING back in the snow, these two polar bears share a cuddle as they call time out on playtime .
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
A trout manages to escape the jaws of a hungry cormorant - only to find itself back inside the bird's long beak .
ROLLING across a 65-metre-high viaduct in the Alps, the red carriages of the Bernina Express add a splash of colour to the spectacular snow-covered Swiss surroundings .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
FROM MRS Patmore to Lady Sybil, these barking mad illustrations show the WOOF-er side of some of our most loved Downton characters .
FROM the rolling hills of the Scottish highlands to looming chalk cliffs in Sussex, these stunning photographs capture the spectacular beauty of Great Britain .
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
Some will get up close and personal with Mother Nature’s deadliest animals to get the perfect shot, posing the question, what lengths will a photographer go to for that all important picture? But in this case, the question should be what depths .
At 19st and eight months pregnant, Ashley Whitfield, went into hospital to have her baby son, Isaac, delivered by emergency C-section .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
THE UK’S STRONGEST SCHOOLGIRL attributes her success to the bendy-body condition that once left her body wracked in pain .