People dressed in costumes have a break while marching during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (Photo by Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Whole cooked alligators are displayed before being served at the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York March 15, 2014. The club, which promotes the scientific exploration of land, sea, air and space featured catering by chef and exotic creator Gene Rurka. Chef Rurka prepared a variety of dishes featuring an array of insects, wildlife, animal body parts and invasive species. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Three-years-old dog Hope uses a wheelchair to run next to its owner Regine Grosinger in Vienna September 3, 2014. Hope was found with cut-off back legs in the countryside and brought to an animal asylum when it was four-month-old. Grosinger took the dog home two months later and had a wheelchair manufactured for it. (Photo by Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)

A devotee sits with lighted oil lamps while offering prayers during the “Dashain”, Hinduism's biggest religious festival in Bhaktapur October 3, 2014. Hindus in Nepal celebrate victory over evil during the festival by flying kites, feasting, playing swings, sacrificing animals and worshipping the Goddess Durga as well as other gods and goddess as part of celebrations held throughout the country. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Ever wondered what life is like in miniature? An Italian photographer has perfected his own brand of macro photography with stunning pictures of miniscule drops of dew on flowers. Alberto Ghizzi Panizza, 40, has been a photographer for 18 years and specializes in macro images. All of these pictures were taken on the riverbanks of the Po River, in northern Italy, as Panizza pursued his passion for nature. “I'm deeply fond of nature and animals and always look for the beauty in the world around us”, Panizza said. (Photo by Alberto Ghizzi Panizza/Caters News)

A lizard wears a cowboy hat at Pet Expo Thailand on May 06, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. Dogs take part in a skateboarding competition at Pet Expo Thailand, a four day exhibition held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Dogs were judged on form and agility and separated into novice and experienced categories. Placing first place in the novice category was Mui and first in the experienced category was Suradej. Both house pets and exotic animals were featured at the expo, with visitors and their pets able to interact with them. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

In more “raccoons are getting more like us” news, a drunk raccoon was found in a liquor store in Virginia, US in the first decade of December 2025. The animal had got into the shop via some loose ceiling tiles, knocked bottles of spirits off the shelves, lapped up the contents and passed out in the toilets. Once it had sobered up, it was released back into the wild – no doubt with a crashing hangover. (Photo by AP Photo)