This watering hole is the social hub of the veldt; the scrubby grasslands that stretch across Namibia. The scorched earth supports sometimes fragile populations of magnificent wildlife – from endangered predators to plentiful herds of game. But these gentle giraffes and elephants need to be careful: lions don’t sleep at night, they hunt! The spectacular starscape above southern Africa is unchanged since explorers first mapped the continent. The photographer, Pietro Olivetta from Italy, said he had to be patient to capture these shots – but it was worth the wait. (Photo by Pietro Olivetta/Caters News)

A shepherd rides a donkey as he leads sheep during winter in Van, Turkiye on February 19, 2022. Despite the terrible winter weather and the hard geology of the region, breeders in Van's Gurpnar district, where livestock is the most important source of revenue, do not disregard the care of their animals. Livestock farmers in the Cepkenli and Topcudegirmeni neighborhoods have the similar difficulties as those in rural areas, where the snow depth reaches one meter. (Photo by Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Takehiko Yagi is a rising star in Japanese photography, and his vibrant pictures of the Hindu spring festival of Holi won the Grand Prize at the fourth annual Nikkei National Geographic Photo Prize. Diving into the Colors of Holi is his first exhibition in the US, on show at Foto Care Gallery in New York until 28 September, 2016. Here: Jaipur, India, 2013, (Photo by Takehiko Yagi/The Guardian)

Scene of action: Bangkok, 2012. One city, one photographer (Seua Yai), and is a lot of beautiful Thai women. I recommend – very interestingly!

Be careful – MANY photos! (Photos by Seua Yai)

Weighing in at just under 6 pounds and at 22.6 inches long, the female pup arrived at Shedd in late October from Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, where she spent the first four weeks of her life being stabilized. The pup has been doing well since her arrival, receiving continual care behind the scenes of Shedd’s Abbott Oceanarium. Currently referred to as “Pup 681”, Shedd’s animal care and veterinarian teams are providing the continual, round-the-clock care she needs to thrive. Photos used with permisson from Shedd Aquarium. (Photo by Brenna Hernandez/AP Photo)

A wild monkey has stunned animal lovers after it adopted an abandoned kitten and cared for it as his own. The young long-tailed macaque monkey was spotted in a forest protectively nuzzling and grooming the ginger kitten, making sure no harm came to it.

Paramedics care for a woman who is ill after the Geelong Cup on Geelong Cup day at Geelong Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, 19 October 2016. The Geelong Racing Club was founded in March 1865 at a public meeting at the British Hotel. The first Geelong Cup was held in 1872 over a distance of two miles. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/EPA)

Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock wears Union Jack socks as he leaves with Britain's Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Evans after a cabinet meeting on Downing Street in London, Britain on January 7, 2020. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)