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It is said that Torajans are people who “live to die”. For this Indonesian ethnic group, funerals are such extravagant events that they sometimes attract tourists. Families can postpone burials years (and the deceased are considered sick and hosted at home until the funeral) until the family can raise enough money and gather as many relatives as possible. And then it’s a jubilant multiday social event with a parade, dances and animal sacrifices. Agung Parameswara photographed these funerary practices when he traveled to South Sulawesi province, where the Torajans live. But often, their funeral isn’t the last time the dead are seen. In August, crypts are opened, coffins are slid back out and bodies delicately unsheathed. This tender ritual is known as Ma’Nene, which is customarily performed every few years. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/The Washington Post)

It is said that Torajans are people who “live to die”. For this Indonesian ethnic group, funerals are such extravagant events that they sometimes attract tourists. Families can postpone burials years (and the deceased are considered sick and hosted at home until the funeral) until the family can raise enough money and gather as many relatives as possible. And then it’s a jubilant multiday social event with a parade, dances and animal sacrifices. Agung Parameswara photographed these funerary practices when he traveled to South Sulawesi province, where the Torajans live. (Photo by Agung Parameswara/The Washington Post)
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06 Oct 2016 09:15:00
In this Thursday, August 27, 2015 photo, a homeless man drinks water while sitting on the beach at Ala Moana Beach Park located near Waikiki in Honolulu. Homelessness in Hawaii has grown steadily in recent years, leaving the state with the nation's highest rate of homeless people per capita. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

Hawaii has long been known as a tropical paradise, but in recent years another image has intruded into the state's carefully crafted one of idyllic beaches and relaxing resorts: homelessness. The number of homeless people has grown in recent years, leaving the state with 487 homeless per 100,000 people, the nation's highest rate per capita, above New York and Nevada, according to federal statistics. Many of the homeless, however, defy the stereotype of the mentally ill or drug addicted. They are families, with men and women who work full-time jobs. They are struggling to get a foothold in a place with a high cost of living and low wages. Here: in this Thursday, August 27, 2015 photo, a homeless man drinks water while sitting on the beach at Ala Moana Beach Park located near Waikiki in Honolulu. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)
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11 Nov 2015 08:03:00
A baby Black-crowned Night Heron squawks in its incubator while being cared for at City Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Washington, DC on May 31, 2017. The heron is one of several that have been brought to CW by the staff at The National Zoo over the past few years. The heron is a native bird and has made an established rookery inside the zoo grounds over a hundred years ago.  Every year at this time, some of the chicks get pushed or fall out of the nest and require human care.  Because the birds are native and not part of the Smithsonian collection, they partnered with CW to rehabilitate the herons for re-release back to the flock inside Zoo. They're reintroduced back to their flock so that they can migrate together in the Fall. The Black-crowned heron usually migrates from the DC area down to southeast North Carolina, some going as far as Jacksonville, FL in winter. The Black-crowned heron is the species of greatest conservation need in the District of Columbia because their numbers are in such rapid decline due to habitat loss. (Photo Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

A baby Black-crowned Night Heron squawks in its incubator while being cared for at City Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in Washington, DC on May 31, 2017. The heron is one of several that have been brought to CW by the staff at The National Zoo over the past few years. (Photo Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)
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04 Jun 2017 08:04:00
Londoners enjoy a “Silent Night” as Big Ben falls silent, London, UK on August 21, 2017. Londoners snuggle up to enjoy the city's first silent night as Big Ben chimed its last for four years. As the sun set over London last night the city bid a temporary farewell to the chimes of its beloved Big Ben. Londoners were testing out the new quiet of the Southbank in an unusual fashion. A luxurious bed, courtesy of bed firm, Silentnight, complete with fluffy white duvet, plump pillows, a hot water bottle and a cuddly toy, emerged in the heart of the city, just in time for bed. It didn't take local residents and workers long to make the most of the peace and quiet with the city's tired workers climbing in for a nap. Rose Allerston from Clapham, London said “After a stressful day in the office, I couldn't think of anything better than going home and climbing into bed - but when I saw this bed opposite Big Ben I just couldn't resist getting in for a snuggle”. (Photo by Imagewise Ltd/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Londoners enjoy a “Silent Night” as Big Ben falls silent, London, UK on August 21, 2017. ose Allerston from Clapham, London said “After a stressful day in the office, I couldn't think of anything better than going home and climbing into bed – but when I saw this bed opposite Big Ben I just couldn't resist getting in for a snuggle”. (Photo by Imagewise Ltd/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
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23 Aug 2017 08:44:00
Wendy Adriaens, owner of animal rescue farm “De Passiehoeve” and nicknamed the Ostrich Whisperer, poses for a photo with three-year-old male ostrich Flodder, in Kalmthout, Belgium, 25 July 2022. Flodder and Wendy were separated for seven months since Wendy moved to a bigger farm in January. Flodder spent the seven months at another farm in order to ease the tension between the two ostriches Flodder and Blue who were fighting to the death and had to be separated. Wendy Adriaens has been taking in all kinds of animals that have been mistreated or neglected for some four years at her farm located in the Province of Antwerp. She lives mainly from donations from people who have known her via social networks. An entrance fee to the farm is requested if visitors want to spend some time there. This makes it possible to buy the necessary for the convalescence of the animals. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Wendy Adriaens, owner of animal rescue farm “De Passiehoeve” and nicknamed the Ostrich Whisperer, poses for a photo with three-year-old male ostrich Flodder, in Kalmthout, Belgium, 25 July 2022. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
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31 Jul 2022 06:16:00
Stella the mother and her cub Zean rest together at The Milwaukee County Zoo  Zean and B'alam  are the two newest jaguar cubs with the mother Stella who are now on public exhibit, at four months old. B' alam (who has larger and darker spots as well as a square space on her forehead showing no spots) name means "Great and powerful king in Mayan.   Zean encompasses the Belize people living and working in Belize, with all cultures. She has smaller, almost greyish spots on her coat.  The names were revealaed at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Journal Sentinel photo by Rick Wood/RWOOD@JOURNALSENTINEL.COM

The first jaguar litter since 1975 was born at the Milwaukee County Zoo to Stella and Pat on November 13, 2013. The litter was on public display for the first time on March 13 when the jaguar baby's names were released. Belize schoolchildren named one Zean, which is the end of Belizean, and a public contest named the other B'alam, which means "great and powerful king" in Mayan. Photo: Stella the mother and her cub Zean rest together at The Milwaukee County Zoo. (Photo by Rick Wood)
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15 Mar 2013 07:51:00
The Borges' family pet dog, Little, is placed on the back of Tom, their tiger, for a photo to be taken, in Maringa, Brazil, Friday, September 27, 2013. The Brazilian family is now locked in a legal dispute for the big cats, they have eight tigers and two lions, with federal wildlife officials working to take them away. While Borges does have a license to raise the animals, Brazilian wildlife officials say he illegally bred the cats, creating a public danger. (Photo by Renata Brito/AP Photo)

“Ary Borges and his family live in southern Brazil like most families the Borges' love animals and have an array of cats living in their home. The only difference between the cats owned by the Borges family and the cat that is cuddled up on your lap as you read this is the Borges' cats weigh over 700 pounds and could kill you just as soon as look at you. The Borges family shares their home with nine tigers, two lionesses, a chimp and a Chihuahua”. – Amanda Schiavo via Latin Times. Photo: The Borges' family pet dog, Little, is placed on the back of Tom, their tiger, for a photo to be taken, in Maringa, Brazil, Friday, September 27, 2013. (Photo by Renata Brito/AP Photo)
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04 Oct 2013 11:51:00
Contractors move Damien Hirst's bronze sculpture of a pregnant woman into position on the harbour wall on October 16, 2012 in Ilfracombe, England. The bronze-clad, sword-wielding 65ft (20m) statue, named Verity, has been controversially given to the seaside town by the artist, on a 20-year loan and was erected by crane on the pier.  (Photo by Matt Cardy)

“Damien Steven Hirst (born 7 June 1965) is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists (or YBAs), who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist, with his wealth valued at £215m in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List. During the 1990s his career was closely linked with the collector Charles Saatchi, but increasing frictions came to a head in 2003 and the relationship ended”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Contractors move Damien Hirst's bronze sculpture of a pregnant woman into positionl on October 16, 2012 in Ilfracombe, England. The bronze-clad, sword-wielding 65ft (20m) statue, named “Verity”, has been controversially given to the seaside town by the artist, on a 20-year loan and was erected by crane on the pier. (Photo by Matt Cardy)
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17 Oct 2012 12:34:00