Beautiful Animals

Yawning is contagious...

That's a big turtle.

These guys must be pissed. They survived Liopleurodon and Megalodon only to be brought to the edge of extinction by big-brained bald apes.

Barry, Isaac is a beauty. Look at the gloss on his coat. Congrats to the human and the canine on their promotions. Ruth is a stunner. You know I'm a sucker for German shepherds. Sigh. The lion cub in the tree makes me laugh. I guess it's true that cats can be comfortable in lots of strange positions.

HH, Holy moley. Look at the size of that turtle. I wonder how old it is. Wow.

firefly, I'm not gonna yawn. I'm not gonna yawn. Great pic. Thanks, kid.

rosborne, Those same big-brained bald apes have brought a great many animals to the edge of extinction. I sometimes wonder about the big brains.

Bison and calves:

Elephants cross the Ewaso Nyiro River in the Samburu game reserve in Kenya.

PHOTO BY CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/SF CHRONICLE

A maned wolf

I doubt Ruth will have any trouble finding a home when she retires. She's gorgeous.

These are in a series in today's Guardian -

Portrait of one chilled-out kangaroo: "Jeez Louise … those cookies were good".
Photograph: Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest



The Galactic Squid: while on a night dive in the waters off Okinawa, Japan, this reef squid showed up. The time and air I spent trying to get close to him paid off.
Photograph: Cameron Knudsen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest



One mother's love: I love watching the affection and attention that Bonobos have for their young. They truly are a wonderful species of ape.
Photograph: Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Some Pandas enjoying the snow.

Pandas at play, what a scene.

osso, You've outdone yourself today. The elephant photo is gorgeous. Definitely a chilled out roo. I've never seen that kind of squid. Wow! Bonobos are less aggressive than chimps. Great shot. Thanks for them all.

vonny, The wolf is a beauty, but it looks a little worried. I can relate. Thanks.

firefly, Irresistable. I couldn't help but smile, not that I was trying not to. Thanks mucho.

Muskoxen in a defensive circle:

Time to activate all thud buttons:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/guardianwitness-blog/gallery/2013/may/10/pet-best-friends-your-pictures#/?picture=408626180&index=0

Hard to pick a favorite.. maybe the cows and dog photo, for me.

Also, what is the second animal in the second to last photo?

They are lovely photos, thanks Osso. Which animal are you querying? I've looked and the penultimate photo is a hedgehog and a cat - or am I looking at the wrong one?

I didn't know it was a hedgehog, not having lived in hedgehoggy places.. I think I thought they were bigger.

Did you have a favorite?

Doh, I never stopped to think that some people might not have hedgehogs - it's one thing we do have plenty of! The one in the picture is about average size; they don't grow very big.

My favourite? Torn between the blind bull and the ram, and the final photo of the cute little dog with a cat. Hard to choose though - they're all lovely.

I love these big ole yaks -

What an adorable creature! Love its 'spectacles'!