A former Gurkha (special forces soldier), Nirmal Purja, takes a selfie at the start of his attempt to scale the world’s 14 highest peaks in seven months to break a 31-year-old record. Nirmal Purja, known as Nims, aims to smash the current record – which stands at seven years, 11 months and 14 days – set by Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka. On the way, he also plans to defeat at least seven speed world records on mountains over 8,000m high. (Photo by Nirmal Purja/PA Wire Press Association)

An elephant mahout (trainer) lies on his elephant his feet resting on its ears as it rests and eats prior to opening day's play at the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament 2014 held near Bangkok, in Samut Prakan province, Thailand, 28 August 2014. The annual charity tournament runs until 31 August and involves 51 elephants who normally live on the streets and are used for begging. Sixteen competing elephant polo teams from 40 different nations take part in the charity event directed at raising funds to improve the lives of the elephants and elephant conservation in general. (Photo by Barbara Walton/EPA)

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst (not shown) works outside the space station's Quest airlock in the first of three spacewalks for the Expedition 41 crew aboard the International Space Station in this NASA image released October 8, 2014. (Photo by Reuters/NASA)

In this Friday, December 5, 2014 photo, Iranian volunteer Asal Moghaddam plays with dogs at the Vafa Animal Shelter in the city of Hashtgerd 43 miles (73 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran. More than 500 dogs find care and affection at the Vafa Animal Shelter, which was established through an endowment in 2004 and is the country’s only licensed animal refuge. (Photo by Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

Clowns take part in the annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe to pay homage to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City December 16, 2014. Dressed in colourful costumes, hundreds of clowns from all over Mexico walked towards the Basilica to give thanks to the virgin for the work they have received. (Photo by Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume feeds a sunfish to attract visitors at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, suburban Tokyo on December 17, 2014. Christmas attractions will be held till Christmas Day. (Photo by Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP Photo)

Community members look for the nameplates of their loved ones Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at Myers Funeral Service and Crematory in Porterville, Calif. during the 20th year of the memorial tree lighting. (Photo by Chieko Hara/AP Photo/The Porterville Recorder)

A participant wearing a tiger mask performs during the “Paseo del Pendon”, a traditional artistic march in Chilpancingo, December 21, 2014. The “Paseo del Pendon” (walk banner) is a traditional celebration in the streets of Chilpancingo to mark the begin of the the year-end festivities in the city. (Photo by Jorge Dan Lopez/Reuters)