2013, A Remarkable Year In Animal Kingdom

This resourceful frog was snapped sheltering from the rain – using a leaf as an UMBRELLA. Snapper Penkdix Palme, 27, caught the tiny tree frog sheltering from the rain in his neighbour’s back garden. The aquaphobic amphibian clung on to the stem of the green leaf for a staggering 30 minutes as it was lashed by wind and rain. Talented Penkdix, who only took up photography six months ago, said he was shocked when he stumbled upon the unusual scene in his hometown of Jember, East Java, Indonesia.

Until this year who would have thought that frogs use umbrellas and have an appetite for space travel?

And little did we know at the beginning of the year that during the course of 2013 we would meet not only a caterpillar who looked remarkably like Donald Trump but also establish the fact that shrimps can ably carry out delicate dental procedures.

Yes, 2013 truly was a remarkable year in the animal kingdom.

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Fourteen giant panda cubs lie on a bed for members of the public to view at Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding on in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. Giant pandas are an endangered species – only 1,600 are left in the wild. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)

He’s “a bit thick” and he may look like a tea cosy — but he’s actually about to become part of a crack flying display team. Baby Ural owl Tomsk, who was saved and hand-reared after his sibling was accidentally killed by his parents, is the latest recruit to the aerial squad at the Scottish Owl Centre in West Lothian. Rod Angus, 53, who runs the centre with wife Niccy, said: “Tomsk is five weeks old, really laid back and quite friendly. “He’s less than a foot tall, he looks like a tea cosy and he’s a little bit thick but we haven’t got a Ural owl in the flying team.

This cute puppy will always be able to show her owners she loves them – after being born with a perfect heart-shaped patch. Adorable 16-day-old Valerie is a Jack Russell-Chihuahua-cross and is one of 25 dogs in the household. But owners Joanne and Dave Boardman will never be able to miss their new addition with the striking brown fur patch which resembles a perfect love-heart on her back.

Meet the animal kingdom’s most HISS-TERICAL friends. A Chihuahua and a Python have become the best of pals after their belly dancing owner brought them together for a show. This unlikely bond almost defies belief until you see the huge grin on Fifi’s face as Bashar curls his way around her neck and you realise – they’re in love. (SWNS)

A hill pony called Breeze was found dehydrated and stumbling after being abandoned by his mother just a few hours after his birth in Dartmoor National Park. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary in Newton Abbot, Devon, nursed him back to health – with the help of this giant teddy bear which acted as a surrogate mother. (SWNS)

Ticket to ride? This is the moment a red-eyed Costa Rican tree frog hitched a lift on a giant Hercules beetle. The sharp horned creature looks like it can kill the sweet amphibian in an instant – but luckily it was fast asleep. (Nicolas Reusens/ Caters)

A frog has (accidentally) been launched in to space. Its unfortunate journey was captured by one of NASA’s cameras set up for the launch of the LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) spacecraft at the Wallops/Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia last Friday (6 September). The unlucky amphibian was snapped silhouetted against a cloud of smoke as the LADEE lifted off from the Wallops facility. (Rex Features)

These heart-warming photographs show an incredible bond between a WILD lioness and the men fighting to save her species. The amazing pictures show Sirga – a 110lb lioness – and her adopted pride Valentin Gruener and Mikkel Legarth. Incredibly she treats the two men just like she would other lions and with their help she can now hunt for prey on her own. (Caters)