IN PICTURES: Incredible amateur animal shots from Dudley Zoo
They could easily have been taken on the plains of Africa or the snow-topped mountains of China, but each of these stunning images of wildlife were captured right here in the Black Country.
These snaps have been chosen to feature in Dudley Zoo's 2016 calendar and were all taken by amateur photographers.
From a fearsome Sumatran tiger to an adorable Humboldt penguin, the images capture the wide range on animals on display at the zoo.
The zoo's own photographer Jason Skaratt was given the unenviable task of choosing a top 13 to feature in the calendar, one for the front cover and each month of the year, from more than 100 entries from zoo visitors.
Chosen for the front cover was the stunning shot of a black and white ruffed lemur, capturing its glowing orange eyes deep in focus.
Orangutans, meerkats, a chimpanzee and bearded dragon all feature during the year.
The lucky 13 - including one woman who travelled more than 200 miles from Gateshead to take December's picture of the otters - will be treated to an intimate Wake up the Zoo tour, where they will be allowed inside before it opens and see the animals having their breakfast.
Kathryn Willett, who lives over the road from the zoo in Page's Croft and visits a couple of times a week, was delighted to hear her snap of beloved tiger Daseep, had made it into the calendar.
The spectacular shot was taken on a snowy day at the start of this year.
The 46-year-old amateur photographer, who works at Tesco in Dudley, said: "I would be lost without my camera, I work nights and it is a little bit of chill time for me.
"Anytime anyone uses my pictures it's a huge privilege. I feel very proud. It was in January or February this year, I saw the snow on the ground and thought 'quick, get the camera'."
A self-confessed cat girl, Kathryn picked the snow leopard and lioness as her other favourites, among with the meerkats. She said there will be plenty of more shots of Daseep to come.
"Ever since he came he came here I have been obsessed with her, she is a beautiful animal.
The Dudley Zoo calendar is always popular with visitors and is now on sale from the safari gift shop for £4.99.
Proceeds from the 2016 calendar will be given to Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe - an organisation whose representatives recently visited the zoo to talk about its work saving endangered African hunting dogs in the wild through action and education.
This year's calendar raised £700 for charity 21st Century Tiger towards wild tiger conservation projects
Marketing manager Andrea Hales said: "Jason had a very difficult job as standards were incredibly high but we are thrilled with the finished 2016 calendar and we're sure it will be popular with our visitors.
"The 13 images offer a glimpse of the wide range of animals we have here at Dudley Zoo.
"We are extremely grateful to everyone who entered the calendar competition and offer our congratulations to the winners on their impressive images."
