Images Dated 6th June 2008

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Chimpanzee siblings hugging each other. The chimpanzee's natural habitat is the forest and forest edges of central and western Africa. It is social, living in large communities that may contain dozens of individuals arranged in loose family groups. The chimp is highly communicative, using a wide range of facial expressions, vocalisations and gestures. It feeds on a variety of foods including both plants and animals. It is thought that humans and chimps had a common ancestor as little as 5 million years ago

© Tony Craddock/Science Photo Library

Barn owls

Barn owls. Two barn owls (Tyto alba) sitting on a tree stump. These birds are found on all continents except antarctica, in virtually all habitats, although they prefer rural open land. Barn owls are mostly monogamous and breed once a year laying between 2 and 18 eggs. Females are slightly larger than males, measuring up to 40 centimetres in length. These nocturnal predators specialise in hunting small ground mammals, mainly rodents. They will also eat small birds, reptiles and insects. They are proficient hunters due to their silent flight and accurate directional hearing

© David Aubrey/Science Photo Library

Imperial Possessions

A map entitled British Possesions In The Indian Seas, with a main panel showing Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and inserts showing Malacca, Singapore, Penang and Labouan, circa 1872. The map is bordered with scenes depicting the indigenous peoples and fauna of the region. Published by A. Fullarton & Co, of London and Edinburgh. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

© 2008 Getty Images