They are known for being aggressive predators, willing to attack and kill humans.

But as this picture shows, brown bears are also ever so slightly vain.

This young bear was caught out gazing at its own reflection in a Finnish lake

These pictures show the brown bear repeatedly stooping to stare at himself, unaware that photographer Sylwia Domaradska is hiding just yards away.


She captured the pictures in Kainuu, eastern Finland, where there is almost 24-hour daylight during the summer months.

The 37-year-old from London said: 'It totally felt like a dream. It was almost difficult to see where the reflections were starting.

'The bear turned up at around midnight. He came very quietly along the water's edge looking for food.


'It was a fairly young bear, perhaps two or three years old. He was very cautious as at this age he'd need to be careful about females with cubs, and older males.

'He seemed to look at his own reflection - as he stayed in the same place for a while.'

Miss Domaradska said when the bear began moving around the edge of the lake he continued looking in.


'It really was quite amusing to see - and then he was gone,' she said.

'The conditions were absolutely perfect for this kind of image.

'The reflections were perfectly still and the line between the reflections and actual trees being reflected created very little blur.

'I had actually gone out with the intention of taking a different image. I was hoping to see bears bathing and splashing in the water but instead, this happened.

'But it didn't turn out too bad, did it?'






Source : dailymail

Police in Bangkok have arrested a pet shop owner after finding a menagerie of illegally imported animals during a swoop on a warehouse outside the city.

Thai officers found 14 albino lions from Africa and hundreds of other protected animals including birds, meerkats, tortoises, peafowls, capuchin monkeys and other species from overseas and Thailand, a police spokesman said.

Colonel Ek Ekasart said Montri Boonprom-on, 41, faced charges of possessing wildlife and carcasses, and he could face up to four years in jail and a fine of 40,000 baht (£830 or $1,300).


Ek said Montri owned an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market and had been convicted of wildlife trading before.

Montri told reporters the lions were shipped legally and were waiting to be transferred to a zoo in Thailand's northeast.

He did not explain the discrepancy between his documents showing that he had imported 16 lions, and the fact that police had only found 14 of them at his warehouse in a residential area of Bangkok's Klong Sam Wa district.


Thailand is a hub of the international black market in protected animals. While the country is signed up to a convention regulating international trade in endangered species, Thai law does not extend protection to many alien species.

Other species seized included baboons, tortoises, sugar gliders and peacocks.  Police also found a hornbill and a leopard, both protected by Thai law, which were packed in a box and were scheduled to be delivered to clients on Monday.

The police spokesman said: 'We have been monitoring the location for a few days after the neighbors complained about the noise from the animals, and if you looked through the gate, you could spot lions in the cage.'

The animals were confiscated and are being looked after by the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.











Source : dailymail

When temperatures reaching a stifling 37 degrees, even these well-adapted tigers need to find a way of escaping the heat.

The beautiful big cats are pictured at the controversial Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, where around 100 live alongside Buddhist monks.

Many were brought to the reserve as cubs and have grown up around humans. But even so these pictures show just how remarkably close these fearsome creatures can get to their keepers.

An adult tiger is, at first, sprawled out on the ground sunbathing, but then cuddles up close to one of his fellow residents in the shade.


Elsewhere, a young tiger was spotted happily playing around in a pool of water with a fascinating new toy.

Along with soaring temperatures, the humidity in Thailand can reach an exhausting 90 per cent in the summer months.

Founded in 1994, the Tiger Temple has attracted criticism from some wildlife groups who claim it is an illegal breeding facility and that the tigers are not sufficiently cared for.


The first cub arrived in 1999 after her mother was killed by poachers nearby.

She died, but others have since arrived and the tiger population has gradually grown. The centre has become a tourist attraction where visitors can pay a fee to have their picture taken alongside the animals.

The organistion insists that it is a legitimate conservation centre, that the animals are well-cared for and that the aim is to release them back into the wild in the future.




Source : dailymail

Chameleons are famous for their ability to change colour to blend in with their environment.

Fortunately this butterfly didn't give the game away when it came to rest on a reptile's head in Turkey - as its wings were an identical shade of bright green.

The delicate Eastern Dappled White flitted on to the chameleon's back as it clung to the stem of a plant in Kahramanmaras, before perching casually on the creature's head.

The quirky scene caught the attention of photographer Mehmet Karaca, 28, who fetched his camera after being struck by the creatures' matching 'strong green colour'.


'I love that these two are the same strong green colour,' he said.

'They both look so calm and peaceful together - they're perfectly matched.'

Mr Karaca took the shots at around 6pm near his home in the Turkish city.




Source : dailymail

The Lion King: Photographer Andrew Schoeman captured this striking image of an alpha male lion prowling across the wild fields of South Africa

 
Seeing some of the world's most majestic creatures in their natural African habitat is always a momentous occasion. But, as these beautiful pictures show, watching them in their element during the twilight hours is all the more spectacular.

Photographer Andrew Schoeman, 40, captured these stunning images of mammals and birds prowling the wilds of South Africa but appearing as silhouettes against the contrasting background of the setting and rising sun.

Land of the rising sun: A yellow billed stork at sunrise can be seen flying across the African plains as the sky lightens up behind

His vivid images show everything from an imposing alpha male lion and hefty elephants to tiny bee-eating birds and Cape Turtle doves.

Mr Schoeman, who works as a freelance photographic guide on safari, took the shots at sunrise and sunset.

Born to be wild: Silhouettes of elephants as they march across the African terrain near the Chobe river in Botswana

They include a herd of elephants fresh from swimming across a river or enjoying a dust bath and a giraffe appearing to dwarf the bright sun.

Mr Schoeman, from Nelspruit, said: 'I love the colour in the images. A lot of photographers only want sunlight but I feel there are many opportunities after the sun has set or the light has gone.

On the prowl: Photographer Andrew Schoeman captured these two Cheetahs as the sun begins to set in the horizon

'For me a silhouette tells a story and there is something special about capturing the moment in time just before the sun has gone but there are still great colours in the sky.

'I need to be very accurate with my exposures otherwise I can lose the colour in the sky and I enjoy the challenge of getting the exposure right and still having a sharply focused image and a nice composition.

Love birds: Two doves can be seen perched on a branch as the sun rises in the background

'The light fades very fast at sunset and it gets bright very quickly at sunrise so the window of opportunity is very small - but I love the challenge.'

Mr Schoeman photographed the giraffe and African Fish Eagle from a boat in the Chobe river, Botswana. And the elephants were taken soon after they had stopped at the water's edge to drink.

Lone ranger: This elephant appears to have broken away from its herd in this image taken by photographer Andrew Schoeman

Mr Schoeman said: 'A few of the elephants had a bit of a dust bath on their way back to the woodland, creating this beautiful moment.

'It was dry and dusty and I love the way the colour, the dust and the silhouettes of the 'ellies' combine. This family scene is one of my best images.'

Early riser: This silhouette shows a Cheetah waking up as the clouds start to disperse to reveal rays of sunshine on a cool morning

A cheetah is pictured sniffing the ground as clouds slowly disperse on a cool morning, allowing rays of sunlight to break through.

The Carmine Bee eaters were spotted at a nesting colony home to thousands of birds, flying around and squawking.

Mr Schoeman saw the lion on a chilly, cloudy morning. He said: 'We were on a drive and saw this lion with the amazing sun and clouds behind him.

Birds of a feather: Photographer Andrew Schoeman captured these tiny Carmine bee eaters flying off into the sunset

'We got into position a few minutes before he got up and I was able to capture this image of him. I think the sun and cloud in the sky look brilliant, with him lifting his paw in the air.

'I love the fact that it is a powerful animal with a beautiful sunrise, the colours in the sky are great.'

Breaking dawn: A Cheetah watches the sun rise over wild terrain of Botswana in this picture by Andrew Schoeman

Source : dailymail

Separated from certain death only by a metal grill, a thrill-seeking pensioner comes face-to-face with one of the most dangerous creatures on earth.

Lowered into the water in a cage, danger-mad 73-year-old Janet Martyn, from Walthamstow, London, is a matter of inches away from three deadly, 12-foot long Nile crocodiles.

While brave Janet was getting her bearings in the water in the Cango Wildlife Ranch in South Africa, the animals began circling her, and would normally have been licking their lips at the prospect of a hearty meal.


But the crocs, named Hannibal, Marbaker and Sue, recognised Jan as a familiar face - and, instead of trying to take chunks out of her, began playfully nuzzling her cage.

Jan has been a volunteer at the centre, which is home to nearly 100 species, for seven years, and regularly gets dunked in the water to meet them.


The adrenaline-pumping act isn't for the faint-hearted, though, as Nile crocodiles are extremely dangerous.

 It is not uncommon for them to measure 20ft in length and weigh 900kg. It is an opportunistic apex predator and a very aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range.

Their diet consists mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals and it is an ambush predator able to wait for hours, days and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack.





Source : dailymail