Monkey grinders are so 20th century. In Russia, the new animal troubadours are acrobatic cats and their equally dynamic trainers.

While the African leopard is one of the most widely recognized creatures in Africa, its days may be numbered. Thanks to habitat loss, fragmentation and conflicts with nomadic farmers, the exotic feline may soon qualify for Vulnerable status.

A cheetah mother and her cub overlook their home territory in this beautiful photograph.