“Wombats are Australian marsupials; they are short-legged, muscular quadrupeds, approximately 1 metre (39 in) in length with a short, stubby tail. They are adaptable in their habitat tolerances, and are found in forested, mountainous, and heathland areas of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, as well as an isolated patch of about 300 ha in Epping Forest National Park in central Queensland”. – Wikipedia

Photo: “Abdul”, a baby Common Wombat, is one of the marsupials on show during the spring baby boom at Taronga Zoo September 1, 2005 in Sydney, Australia. “Abdul” was orphaned when his mother was killed by a car. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these striking images of 2017 are no exception. The photo highlights include incredible snapshots of the natural world as well as some awesome animal and human encounters. The vibrant gallery also shows thrill-seekers pushing themselves to the limit with breathtaking stunts captured in perfect clarity. The pictures have been taken by a host of photographers from around the world. Here: The two lion cubs singing their hearts out at Antelope park in Zimbabwe. (Photo by David Jenkins/Caters News Agency)

In this handout image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), model runs from the Center for Tsunami Research at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory show the expected wave heights of the tsunami as it travels across the Pacific basin March 11, 2011. The largest wave heights are expected near the earthquake epicenter, off Japan. The wave will decrease in height as it travels across the deep Pacific but grow taller as it nears coastal areas. In general, as the energy of the wave decreases with distance, the near shore heights will also decrease (e.g., coastal Hawaii will not expect heights of that encountered in coastal Japan). (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

“Photographer Seth Casteel has definitely taken animal photography to new heights – or depths – with his hilarious photos of dogs chasing balls underwater. Casteel, who, naturally, has two dogs of his own (a mini Labradoodle and a Norwich terrier), said that he's drawn to underwater dog photography because the photos show a side of dogs that people may have never seen before”.

Photo: Seth Casteel Underwater Dog Pictures (Photo by Seth Casteel)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gets on a custom made World Trade Center inspired motorcycle in front of the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site on October 5, 2011 in New York City. The motorcycle was designed by Paul Teutul Jr. of the television show “American Chopper” and was built to commemorate the rebuilding of the World Trade Center Site. Another motorcycle, nearly identical to the one unveiled, will also be built by Paul Jr. and raffled to raise money for the 9/11 Memorial. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Gengis “Lil Ceng” Ademoski (L) and Khaled “KC” Chaabi (R) of the four time world champion Berlin dance troupe “Flying Steps” strike a freeze on a piano played by muscian Jia Lim (C) of Singapore at the 17th century waterfront area of Nyhavn in build up to the Red Bull Flying Bach European Tour, a show that features the cultural clash of break dancing with the classical music of Johann Sebastian Bach, on August 30, 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images)

Members of China Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe perform “Thousand-arm Goddess of Mercy” during a show on March 12, 2005 in Guangzhou of Guangdong Province, China. China Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe was established in 1987. It is an amateur mass art troupe composed of visually impaired, audibly impaired and physically and mentally challenged people. In the past nearly two decades, the troupe has visited more than 30 countries and regions, winning the hearts of audiences all over the world by their solid background of Chinese Culture and their colourful national charm. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Nelson Hernandez flashes the victory sign as he shows off one of the voodoo dolls that he is selling at El Viejo Lazaro Botanica to try and help the Miami Heat fans root their team on against the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals on June 9, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The dolls made from cotton come in white or black and they are all the same size. The user of the doll must have the name of the player attached to the doll, which is filled with cotton, herbs, sticks and a special powder. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)