Ra Paulette is an American cave sculptor based in New Mexico who digs into hillsides to sculpt elaborate artistic spaces inside mountains. Reviewer Martha Mendoza in the Los Angeles Times described the caves he created as shrines, as hallowed places, a “sanctuary for prayer and meditation” while others describe the caves as works of art. The caves are finished with “scallops, molded curves, smooth ledges, inlaid stones, narrow pods and crusty ledges”. His caves attract visitors worldwide.

Attracting more than 450 entries from around the world, the winners are selected by a panel of expert judges including ZSL honorary conservation fellow and television presenter Kate Humble, and renowned ornithologist Bill Oddie. Here: Anoura Geoffroy’s tailless bat by Nicolas Reusens. The Perfect Moment category; Adult runner up. (Photo by Nicolas Reusens/ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2015)

Vigilantes armed with automatic rifles patrol the streets of Bujumbura, a city plagued by killings and violence as Burundi's crisis deepens. Here: an armed vigilante holds an AK-47 rifle in the center Bujumbura, Burundi, November 20, 2015. (Photo by Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

Sandstone sculpted by water and wind erosion is seen in a slot canyon, one of hundreds that surround Lake Powell near Page, Arizona, May 26, 2015. Lake Powell on the Colorado River provides water for Nevada, Arizona and California. A severe drought in recent years, combined with withdrawals that many believe are not sustainable, has reduced its levels to only about 42 percent of its capacity. (Photo by Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Natalia Arango works with her mine detector in a zone of landmines planted by rebels groups near Sonson in Antioquia province, November 19, 2015. Women's work takes on a nontraditional meaning for fifteen Colombian women who work to rid the Antioquia Mountains of deadly landmines as the country edges closer to a peace agreement with Marxist rebels to end over a decade of conflict which has claimed 220,000 lives. (Photo by Fredy Builes/Reuters)

Nuns react at the arrival of Pope Francis at the St. Mary's school to attend a meeting of clergy and religious in Nairobi, Kenya, 26 November 2015. Pope Francis is on a six days visit that will take him to Kenya, Uganda and the Repulic of Central Africa from 25 to 30 November. (Photo by Daniel Dal Zennaro/EPA)

Young Japanese women pose with a green bear costumed person during the 'Earth Parade 2015' in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, November 28, 2015. Ahead of the U.N. climate change summit in Paris starting this week, about 1,000 citizens and environmental activists took to the streets of Tokyo on Saturday, calling for strong actions to combat global warming. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)

A doll, placed by stranded Iranian migrant protesters, hangs from barbed wire in front of Madedonian police at the Greek-Macedonian border near to the Greek village of Idomeni November 29, 2015. The protesters were demonstrating against what they say is the closure of the border for Iranian migrants. According to the demonstrators, the hanging toys and dolls represent the outcome of being unable to return, if they are sent back to Iran. (Photo by Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)