Tony Wu / Fringed blenny (Chirolophis japonicus) guarding its eggs. Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) adults guarding chick, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, June. Bookplate.

Theo Webb / Driver ant (Dorylus) large soldier guarding smaller ants, in Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Vincent Grafhorst / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) sentinel on termite mound, Makgadikgadi, Botswana

Laurent Geslin / Southern plains grey / Hanuman langur {Semnopithecus dussumieri} stretching out hand to touch camera, Ranthambore NP, Rajasthan, India. 2006

Jabruson / African elephant (Loxodonta africana) confiscated and recovered ivory tusks stocked and stored at Nagero, Garamba National Park H.Q, Democratic Republic of Congo (Formerly Zaire) No release available...

Neil Aldridge / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing and keeping watch while another excavates a burrow in soft sand before disappearing underground for the night. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana, April.

Neil Aldridge / Young Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) standing on its hind legs near the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana, April.

Staffan Widstrand / White rhinoceros (Cerathorium simum) watched by anti-poaching patrol of iMfolozi National Park, South Africa October 2011

Anup Shah / Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) female 'Fanle' aged 13 years and protecting her infant son 'Flanle' aged 3 years from an aggressive male, Bossou Forest, Mont Nimba, Guinea. January 2011.

Tui De Roy / Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) male guarding single chick. Punta Cevallos, Espanola Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, May.

Dave Watts / Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) adult male with chicks, World Heritage National Park rainforest of the Wet Tropics, north Queensland, Australia