***EXCLUSIVE*** RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - UNDATED: Jag the jaguar and Bullet the dog play around together at the Akwaaba Lodge in Rustenburg, South Africa. Playing rough and tumble with a jaguar would leave most thinking this dog's chance of survival is slim. But the unlikely feline-canine pairing are best of friends - playing, sleeping and even eating together 24 hours a day. Bullet the Jack Russell became pals with the jaguar, fondly known as 'Jag', after he was moved to the Akwaaba Lodge in South Africa. PHOTOGRAPH BY Ruaridh Connellan / Barcroft Media

WITH a gold chain on his neck and a sparkle in his eye, this looks like the world's first Playboy monkey. The funky-haired primate is part of a 'circus-in-a-bag' which entertains guests on the beaches of Sri Lanka. The show, which includes a python and a king cobra, stunned tourists as they soaked up the sun near Koggala. Photographer Alex A. Royal, 40, was on hand to capture the unusual trio as they clambered and slithered across the sand. He said: "I was having a rest on the beach when a man with a big bag came along. "It was kind of like a circus because he offered to take photos of us with his animals and he began to get a python, a cobra and a monkey from same bag. "People on the beach were shocked when they saw the big snakes on the beach." He added: "I don't know how these animals manage to live together in one bag but I don't think it is comfortable." The unnamed 'circus master' posed for the pictures with his animals before gathering them up in his bag again and heading off.

GAINESVILLE, FL - MAY 02: Gino Mattucci, a large animal vet technician at the University of Florida Large Animal Hospital, hoists Roozer "Roo" Brewz, a miniature dwarf horse, onto a cart to fit Roo for hoof braces on May 2, 2013 in Gainesville, Florida. PHOTOGRAPH BY Gainesville Sun /Landov / Barcroft Media

A POORLY orangutan lies critically ill under a towel after being rescued from a theme park. The two-year-old called Jack was being held captive at the Taman Wisata fun fair in Sumatra when he was seized by rescuers. Teams from two orangutan charities brought Jack to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) for life-saving treatment. Only 6,660 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild and they are at risk of becoming the first species of Great Ape to become extinct. It is illegal to keep or harm orangutans, however, an illegal trade in the primates still exists as their remaining habitats are destroyed. Panut Hadisiswoyo, director of the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), said “We know of more orangutans being held captive, we need the government authorities to take urgent action to confiscate them so that they can have a second chance at life in the wild. Dr. Ian Singleton, Director of Conservation at SOCP echoed the need to continue the rescue missions and protect the remaining forests. “In many ways, Jack and others like him are the lucky ones," he said. "Captive orangutans are refugees from areas of forest that no longer exist. We must see the orangutans’ last remaining forests protected if we are to have any chance of saving the species.” In the last nine months the charities have rescued 15 orangutans. Helen Buckland of UK charity the Sumatran Orangutan Society said: “There is a real conservation emergency happening right now. "There are plans to wipe 1.2 million hectares of protected forest off the map in Aceh province, which would be an absolute catastrophe for orangutans, tigers, elephants, and rhinos - all already critically endangered. "Thousands of local people would also be put at extreme risk of floods and landslides." To support the campaign to save Aceh’s forests please visit: http://orangutans-sos.org/campaigns/save_aceh

A BABY elephant walks again thanks to an ingenious new boot - a year after ivory poachers almost hacked her to death. The 17-month-old orphan, known as Suni, was found dragging herself by the front legs, weak and dehydrated with severe axe wounds to her spine and legs. Her mother had been killed and stripped of her tusks. A deep wound to Suni's spine had caused paralysis in her right leg. Staff at the Elephant Orphanage Project in Lusaka, Zambia, came to Suni's aid and nursed her back to health. A team of specialists from Norway and the USA were then flown in to operate on the cute youngster and fit her with an aluminium leg support - which has put her back on her feet. Rachel Murton, Elephant Orphanage manager, said: "It was touch and go at first. But as the swelling decreased in her back she demonstrated increasing feeling in her leg. "With a combination of physiotherapy, massage and intense nursing we kept our fingers crossed for this little fighter." The unique leg support is made of aluminium, PVC and leather. With her new mobility, Suni charged around with her friends. Head keeper, Kelvin Chanda, added: "You cannot imagine the excitement from all involved when Suni finally walked normally for the first time." Suni still requires constant care, medical support and milk feeds every three hours - but she is now on the road to recovery.

A GIRAFFE delivers a kung-fu kick to the back of a rivals head - as they battle it out for supremacy. The two lanky Thornicroft’s, a sub species found only in Zambia, had become locked in a vicious battle over mating rights with females. Teh pair spent over 10 minutes wildly striking one another with their heads - using them like giant mallets. But after becoming locked in a stalemate, one appeared to raise its leg and deliver a blow to the back of his rivals neck - shunting his head towards the ground. Meanwhile the other attempted to flip his sparring partner by taking away his legs. The rarely seen action was captured on camera by London photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, who is spending the year in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. He said: "I spotted the males standing shoulder to shoulder, teeing up for a fight. "The giraffes were swinging at each other, using their heads like giant mallets. It seemed one was trying to catch his opponent’s legs in order to trip him up. "Occasionally one would land a heavy blow which would result in a resounding thud." Giraffes commonly fight to win mating rights with females. But these two eventually called it quits and meandered back into the bush - seemingly giving up on their potential suitors. Will added: "At time is was almost comically as the giraffes' long necks and gangly legs became entangled. "It was clearly a serious fight and the power of some of the blows was quite formidable. "It appeared to be a stalemate with neither giraffe being able to assert dominance over the other. Eventually they wandered off to resume their fight at another time." Male giraffes use their necks as weapons during conflicts, a behaviour known as necking. Bouts are won by the male who can hold himself upright.