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Animal pictures of the week: 22 May 2015

All creatures great and small in our ever popular animal gallery

A mother bear with her cub as he tentatively follows her up a vertical hill. The young brown bear looks as if he is reaching for his mother as he tries to make the difficult climb. Although still a baby, he is already learning important life skills that could potentially save his life in the future. Photographer Marina Cano was in Cabarceno Wildlife Park, in Cantabria, Spain, to photograph the bears who begin to emerge with their young this month.
A mother brown bear helps her cub up a cliff. Photographer Marina Cano was in Cabarceno Wildlife Park, in Cantabria, Spain, to photograph the bears who begin to emerge with their young this month.Picture: Marina Cano/Solent News Credit: Marina Cano/Solent News
A lamprey suckles the tank's glass during a food exhibition in northwestern Spain
A lamprey suckles the tank's glass during a food exhibition in northwestern SpainPicture: MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images Credit: MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images
A 400lb porbeagle shark was caught off the coast of Cornwall
A 400lb porbeagle shark was caught off the coast of CornwallPicture: Jerry Rogers Credit: Jerry Rogers
Shepherd Ruediger Kassuhn and his dogs lead flock of sheep across Iden, eastern Germany
Shepherd Ruediger Kassuhn and his dogs lead a flock of sheep across Iden in eastern GermanyPicture: AP Credit: AP
A hippo and a crocodile fight over a wildebeest
A hippo and a crocodile fight over a wildebeestPicture: CATERS Credit: CATERS
A couple of dolphins are watched by visitors at Shinagawa Aquarium in Tokyo Japan
A couple of dolphins are watched by visitors at Shinagawa Aquarium in Tokyo JapanPicture: EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA Credit: EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
A rescued cat is pictured at the Animal Rescue Asis in San Rafael de Heredia
A rescued cat is pictured at the Animal Rescue Asis in San Rafael de HerediaPicture: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate Credit: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate
A pelican covered in oil sits on a beach about a mile west of Refugio State Beach, California. A broken onshore pipeline spewed oil down a storm drain and into the ocean for several hours Tuesday before it was shut off.
A pelican covered in oil sits on a beach about a mile west of Refugio State Beach, California. A broken onshore pipeline spewed oil down a storm drain and into the ocean for several hours Tuesday before it was shut off.Picture: Kenneth Song/The News-Press via AP Credit: Kenneth Song/The News-Press via AP
With his distinctive black moustache and side parted hairline, this badly behaved moggy has been dubbed a member of the furred Reich for his chilling similarity to ADOLF HITLER. And just like the famous Nazi dictator who is known for his rotten temper Portos Sansara the hairless donskoy cat knows how to get his way by throwing a wobbler or two. Owner Elena Suleymanyan, 44, noticed the one-year-old moggy looked like Adolf Hitler from birth because his markings bared a striking resemblance to the distinctive moustache and hairline of the World War Two German Fuhrer. But when she realised the cat also had similar characteristics to the totalitarian leader, namely, his bad temper, the comparison became spookily real.
The furred Reich: With his distinctive black moustache and side parted hairline this hairless donskoy cat bears a striking resemblance to Adolf Hitler. And just like the famous Nazi dictator who is known for his rotten temper, cat lover Elena Suleymanyan from Moscow says Portos Sansara knows how to get his way by throwing a wobbler or two.Picture: Caters/Rex Credit: Caters/Rex
Gorilla baby Mjukuu, who was born in 2014, is seen with his mother Mbeli as another yet to be named baby is seen on display at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. The newest baby gorilla was born to Western-lowland Gorilla Frala and Silverback, Kibali and at this stage the sex is yet to be determined.
Gorilla baby Mjukuu, who was born in 2014, is seen with his mother Mbeli as another yet to be named baby is seen on display at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. The newest baby gorilla was born to Western-lowland Gorilla Frala and Silverback, Kibali and at this stage the sex is yet to be determined.Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images Credit: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
A newborn Lear's macaw, 37-day-old, in an incubator in a laboratory at Sao Paulo, Brazil
A newborn Lear's macaw, 37-day-old, in an incubator in a laboratory at Sao Paulo, BrazilPicture: Xinhua/Alamy Credit: Xinhua/Alamy
A cheeky langur monkey sticks its tongue out in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India
A cheeky langur monkey sticks its tongue out in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, IndiaPicture: Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex Shutterstock Credit: Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex Shutterstock
These kittens are on a mission to raise awareness for 'no-kill' animal shelters. Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society wanted to spread the word about kitten season so enlisted the help of what they have dubbed 'purritos'.
These kittens are on a mission to raise awareness for 'no-kill' animal shelters. Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society wanted to spread the word about kitten season so enlisted the help of what they have dubbed 'purritos'.Picture: Best Friends/REX Shutterstock Credit: Best Friends/REX Shutterstock
'Traffic is looking a bit ruff, just make sure you don't double bark again'. Two golden retrievers appear to be driving a car in Loughborough
"Traffic is looking a bit ruff, just make sure you don't double bark again". Two golden retrievers appear to be driving a car in LoughboroughPicture: Hannah Barrett/Mercury Press Credit: Hannah Barrett/Mercury Press
A Fasciated tiger-heron that lost its eye is pictured at the Animal Rescue ZooAve in Alajuela
A Fasciated tiger-heron that lost its eye is pictured at the Animal Rescue ZooAve in Alajuela. The National Animal Health Service the Ministry of Environment and Energy have joined forces with the Humane Society International (HSI) to support animal welfare programs, following the increase in violence who are suffering pets and wildlife in the country. Costa Rica has a bill that penalizes animal abuse that has been stalled in Congress, according to local mediaPicture: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate Credit: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate
A rescued Ferruginous Pygmy-owl is pictured at the Animal Rescue ZooAve in Alajuela
A rescued Ferruginous Pygmy-owl is pictured at the Animal Rescue ZooAve in AlajuelaPicture: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate Credit: REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate
Panchito, a 2-month-old, black-handed spider monkey, clings to its mother, at the National Zoo's rescue center, in Managua, Nicaragua
Panchito, a 2-month-old, black-handed spider monkey, clings to its mother, at the National Zoo's rescue center, in Managua, NicaraguaPicture: AP Credit: AP
Four clouded leopard cubs are shown to the media at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. The quadruplets were born May 12.
...The cubs were born on May 12Picture: Ingrid Barrentine/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium via AP Credit: Ingrid Barrentine/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium via AP
Four clouded leopard cubs are shown to the media at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington. The quadruplets were born May 12.
Four clouded leopard cubs are shown to the media at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington...Picture: Ingrid Barrentine/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium via AP Credit: Ingrid Barrentine/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium via AP
Graeme Mitchley captured this unusual picture of a group of rhinos’s in a row in Kruger National Park, South Africa. “I sat with this crash of five rhino for at least half an hour. They came closer and closer and managed to get them in a row. With all the poaching going on at the moment it is rare to see five together, let alone get them in a row”, says the amateur wildlife photographer.
Graeme Mitchley captured this unusual picture of a group of rhinos’s in a row in Kruger National Park, South Africa. “I sat with this crash of five rhino for at least half an hour. They came closer and closer and managed to get them in a row. With all the poaching going on at the moment it is rare to see five together, let alone get them in a row”, says the amateur wildlife photographer.Picture: Greatstock / Barcroft Media Credit: Greatstock / Barcroft Media
A koala sits on a branch in its enclosure at Singapore Zoo. Four female koalas named Chan, Idalia, Paddle and Pellita arrived in Singapore on loan from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, in Brisbane, Australia, and will make Singapore Zoo their temporary home for the next six months. The koala exhibit opens to public on 20 May 2015.
A koala sits on a branch in its enclosure at Singapore Zoo. Four female koalas named Chan, Idalia, Paddle and Pellita arrived in Singapore on loan from the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, in Brisbane, Australia, and will make Singapore Zoo their temporary home for the next six months. The koala exhibit opens to public on 20 May 2015.Picture: EPA/Tom White Credit: EPA/Tom White
Mbeli, a western lowland gorilla carries her seven-month-old baby Mjukuu in the gorilla enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Mjukuu was joined by a new born gorilla born to Frala and it is yet to be named as Taronga Zoo staff still don't know the sex of the baby.
Mbeli, a western lowland gorilla carries her seven-month-old baby Mjukuu in the gorilla enclosure at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Mjukuu was joined by a new born gorilla born to Frala and it is yet to be named as Taronga Zoo staff still don't know the sex of the baby.Picture: EPA/DEAN LEWINS Credit: EPA/DEAN LEWINS
Rescued pugs, Jasper and Jasmine, with owner Matt Roe and the entire wedding party at the West Beach Bathers Pavillion in Melbourne, Australia. The wedding is a fundraiser for Pug Rescue & Adoption Victoria, the organisation that rescued and rehabilitated Jasper and Jasmine in 2013.
Rescued pugs, Jasper and Jasmine, with owner Matt Roe and the entire wedding party at the West Beach Bathers Pavillion in Melbourne, Australia. The wedding is a fundraiser for Pug Rescue & Adoption Victoria, the organisation that rescued and rehabilitated Jasper and Jasmine in 2013.Picture: Chris Hopkins/Getty Images Credit: Chris Hopkins/Getty Images
Robin chicks in a nest inside the engine compartment of Dave Merchant's Toyota Amazon
Robin chicks in a nest inside the engine compartment of Dave Merchant's Toyota AmazonPicture: SWNS Credit: SWNS