1. A macaque monkey got his hands on a wildlife photographer’s camera in an Indonesian forest and snapped these pictures of himself.

2. Keepers dressed in panda costumes transfer a panda cub to a new environment at the Hetaoping Research and Conservation Centre in Wolong, Sichuan province, China.

3. A black rhino is carried by helicopter to a less populated area in South Africa as part of a relocation plan for the highly endangered species.

4. Two year old chimp, Do Do, bottle feeds Aorn, a 60 day old tiger cub in Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand

5. Heidi, the world famous cross-eyed opossum, is seen here at the newly built tropical environment in Leipzig Zoo shortly before her death in September.

6. A Kamchatka brown bear mother shares a moment with her three month old cub in Hamburg, Germany.

7. Photographer, Mrs. Wai Chun says of her picture: ”Taken in June this year during a game drive at Nakuru National Park in Kenya. Rounding a bend on the track I came upon not one but seven of these magnificent young lions draped across the branches of an acacia tree. Some are dozing and some are looking disdainfully at me. I was transfixed by these superb, regal creatures. What a privilege for me to have witnessed this amazing moment.”

8. A little girl rescues a lamb from a farm in the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Iceland after the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano. Daylight was shut out by the ash and buildings were smothered.

9. Pitbull puppy, Harper, was found in a bin bag in Florida with a rigor mortis-like condition which meant she could barely move. She has since been adopted and is well on the way to recovery. “The whole world was against her, but she’s such a fighter,” said Erica Daniel, Harper’s fosterer. “She’s a blessing. She’s awesome.”

10. This little redhead was snubbed by other seals for being different. He was found under a log on the Russian island of Tyuleniy. Thankfully, the nearly blind cub now has a loving home in the country’s leading aquarium. He has been named Nafanya.

11. A vet and animal sanctuary owner embraces Ariel, a paralysed lion in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

12. Loukanikos, a successor of Kanellos the Greek Protest Dog, faces riot police during a demonstration in Athens.

13. A lost baby dolphin, with umbilical cord still attached, before it was taken in by a rescue organisation in Montevideo, Uraguay.

14. Laxmi, a 7 year old elephant mother, reaches out to her 13 month old female calf in India.

15. Twelve giant panda cubs napping in their cot at the Chengdu Research Base in China.

16. Photographer Klaus Echle captured this intimate shot of a vixen in Germany’s Black Forest.

17. A dog is rescued after 3 weeks at sea following the Japanese earthquake this year.

18. Frank and Louie, the world’s oldest surviving Janus cat.

19. Ciuchcia, a four month old German Shepherd chases a cat at a Polish animal sanctuary. Although he is now paralysed, he has incredibly survived being run over by a number of trains after being abandoned on the tracks.

20. Contestants in this year’s Surf Dog Competition in California.

Ireland’s leading animal welfare charity has been shortlisted for the Better Together Charity Awards. €10,000 is at stake for the organisation which receives the most individual donations. It is not about how much money you donate – every single contribution, big or small, will count towards putting them in first place! The closing date is this Friday, the 25^th of November. They are currently coming second – please make a donation to help put them in the lead.

As well as this, they are launching their ISPCA Hay Drive in the coming week. The sad truth is that many horses, ponies and donkeys will die of starvation this winter in Ireland as a result of neglect or abandonment. Just €3 will provide a bale of hay for a needy equine – you can donate by texting the word Hay to 57802 or by making a pledge online. The Hay Drive will be officially launched on Ryan Tubridy’s radio show next Tuesday, but you can kick off the campaign by making a commitment today.

Sign up to the ISPCA’s newsletter to receive regular updates on their work.

Come along on the day to mingle with fellow cat enthusiasts, chat with breeders and get advice from experienced professionals. The gathering is not just for cat owners, but cat admirers too – the show will feature the rarest and most exotic breeds the country has to offer.

This year, the Cork Cat Club is introducing a new competition section for Pedigree Pets. This is so as to include cats that although are registered as Pedigrees, do not fully match the Standard. They will be judged by their general appearance, condition and temperament. By adding this category, the Cork Cat Club hopes to introduce newcomers and to include more people in the world of cat showing.

For those thinking of entering, please note:

• Both Pedigree and Household Cats must have vaccination certificates dated at least 14 days prior to the show
• It is highly recommended that all adult Household Cats are neutered
• All Pedigree Cats must be registered with the GCCFI
• The closing date for entry forms is August 22^nd
• Exhibitors should arrive between 8.30 and 9.45 on the day of the show
• For full rules, directions, entry forms, and schedules, visit the Cork Cat Club page.

The Cork Cat Club welcomes members from throughout Ireland and meet every month in Ballinlough, Cork. They strive to promote the welfare of all cats and to encourage breeding of the highest standard.

Membership forms can be found here. Visit their forum to join in the community spirit.

Pick up a treat for your dog in the Barks and Spenders shopping mall, enter your furry fashionista into the Petchums.com ‘Best Dressed Dog’ Competition or bring along your well-socialised pooch just for a mingle.

The Pet Expo is not just for dog lovers however, and has all sorts of pets covered. Fans of other animals can get interactive with remarkable creatures in the Worlds of Cats, Fish, Birds and Reptiles. Kids will especially like the cuddly critters to be found in the Small Furry Friends Corner. The folks from Newbridge House & Farm will also be there with their flock of more traditional farm animals.

New for 2011 is the Pet Adoption Area. Here, visitors can meet potential new additions to their families and learn about what pet adoption entails. Pet Expo strives to promote responsible pet ownership and the health and welfare of all animals.

With a wealth of indoor and outdoor animal exhibits and special entertainment just for kids, Pet Expo 2011 makes for a great family day out.

Tickets are €10 per adult, €6 for children and seniors, while Family tickets start from €30. They are available at the door or can be pre-bought from the Pet Expo 2011 website shortly.

Check out how we got on at the Pet Expo in 2010 and 2009!

Prizes on the day will go to the Dog with the Best Bark, Dog with the Waggiest Tail, Dog with the Shiniest Coat and Dog with the Happiest Smile. There are some treats for us humans too, but you will have to pre-register to make sure you grab a goodie bag.

Click here to take part and to receive a sponsorship card.

Event Dates and Locations:

3pm, Sunday 22nd May, St. Anne’s Park Raheny

3pm, Sunday 12th June 2011, Tymon Park, Tallaght

3pm, Sunday 28th August 2011, Marlay Park, Rathfarnham

Check out some of the cutest pictures from previous Bark in the Park events below!

This weekend will prove to be a busy one for Dublin Zoo. Today, staff will as usual be fielding a wave of calls from pranksters looking for Annie Lyons or Mr Albert Ross, as part of an April Fools Day tradition.

Sunday will see the zoo hosting a range of fun Mother’s Day events, with special talks about mum animals in the zoo, as well as face-painting and arts and crafts. Also lined up are talks from the gorilla-keepers who recently welcomed a new-born into the troop.

For more info on the events at the zoo, go to http://www.dublinzoo.ie/latest-news.asp