Moment two soggy lions appear to comfort each other as they brace themselves against a heavy downpour

TWO lions appear to comfort each other as they brace themselves against a heavy downpour. The soggy big cats were captured in Kenya by wildlife photographer Ashleigh McCord who said at points the rain was falling so hard the animals were barely visible. PAThe soggy big cats were captured in Kenya by wildlife photographer Ashleigh McCord[/caption] PAA shot of a surprising encounter between an eagle and a bear cub up a tree was also a favourite with voters[/caption] Ashleigh’s touching image was highly commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award. A shot of a surprising encounter between an eagle and a bear cub up a tree was also a favourite with voters. An image of willows reflected in a frozen Italian lake dedicated to a lost friend was crowned the winner. Photographer Cristiano Vendramin, who took the top picture, said he hoped his photography “will encourage people to understand that the beauty of nature can be found everywhere around us”. Most read in News 'PROM NIGHT SEX' Pupil, 18, 'who had sex with teacher on prom night "feels sorry for her"' ABUSED IN HER ROOM Family realised gran, 99, was raped by vile carer with hidden cameras SNOW DAY Map shows UK will be hit by snow for 12 days as Arctic blast brings '23 inches' PACKED IT INN Britain's oldest pub calls time after more than 1,000 years due to Covid LOBBY SHOCK PM's spin chief lobbied No10 Chief of Staff not to outlaw Chinese firm Huawei HORROR CRASH Man in his 90s dies after he was mown down by car outside busy retail centre He said: “I believe having a daily relationship with nature is increasingly more necessary to have a serene and healthy life. ”Nature photography is therefore important to remind us of this bond, which we must preserve, and in whose memory, we can take refuge.” PAAn image of willows reflected in a frozen Italian lake dedicated to a lost friend, captured by photographer Cristiano Vendramin, was crowned the winner[/caption] PAAn image of two birds elegantly perched and flying in the snow, titled ‘Dancing in the Snow’ by Qiang Gui was Highly Commended[/caption] PAA kangaroo and her joey in her pouch stood upright on a charred forest road, titled ‘Hope in a burned plantation’, by Jo-anne McArthur was also Highly Commended[/caption]