Animal Gatherings And Get Togethers

It's not just human beings who love a good get together you know, many members of the animal kingdom also thrive off each others company and are highly sociable too. Here are some of groups who stick with each other through thick and thin...

1. Orange insects fill the sky during the Monarch butterfly mass migration in Mexico.

Between 60 million and one billion Monarch butterflies travel over 2,500 miles from Canada to the woods of central Mexico where they hibernate in the forests over the winter months. Picture: Getty
2. In Brighton a flock of starlings swoop over the pier at dusk.

The birds especially like this hour of the day as it's prime time for insects to take to the skies, providing a tasty dinner. Picture: PA
3. A herd of sheep make their way through the streets of Madrid to promote conservation efforts.

It's a tradition that dates back around 8,000 years and works to inform the people of the Spanish city about ancient migration paths of the animals. Picture: PA
4. The yearly sardine run makes for a tasty lunch for hungry dolphins hunting a shoal of fish.

The underwater mammals hunt their prey off the waters of the Wild Coast in South Africa. Groups of the dolphins often work together to single out individual fish and turn them into lunch.
5. A pride of lionesses relax on the grasslands of Tanzania.

The female lions gather in the Serengeti National Park during the dry season. The area is perfect for packs of lions as prey including wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle all migrate through the area and graze. Picture: PA
6. A migration of a herd of wildebeest cross the Mara river.

The animals rush down a dusty riverbank of the The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Picture: Getty
7. Members of the Household Cavalry ride through snowy London on horseback.

Members of The Life Guards are resplendent as they make their way through the capital on their way to the ceremonial Changing of the Guard. Picture: PA
8. A school of fresh water fish splash around in clear waters.

Living in close knit groups brings many benefits for fish including protection in numbers and Picture: PA
9. A mass migration of zebra and wildebeest.

Wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River in Kenya's Maasai Mara Game Only months after their annual migration south to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, thousands of wildebeest have been spotted back in the Maasai Mara, a rare occurrence which wildlife officials have said may be the result of drought and insufficient pastureland in Tanzania. Picture: PA
10. A mob, gang or clan of meerkats.

Not just content with being the poster boys of the car comparison sites, meerkats are very playful creatures. They roam around in rather sinister sounding 'clans' or 'mobs', but these are in fact large social groups where meerkats can seek company and safety in numbers. Picture: PA
11. A murmuration of starlings.

Around 40,000 starlings descend upon Brighton in the autumn as they prepare to roost for the coming colder months. This photo captures the birds out and about catching the evening's dinner. The mass formation of birds is a unique phenomenon known as a murmuration. Picture: PA
12. A multitude of birds blacken the evening sky as they take flight with the moon behind their wings.

The flock of dark birds stand out starkly against the fading dusk light. Picture: Getty

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Animal Gatherings And Get Togethers

1. Orange insects fill the sky during the Monarch butterfly mass migration in Mexico.

2. In Brighton a flock of starlings swoop over the pier at dusk.

3. A herd of sheep make their way through the streets of Madrid to promote conservation efforts.

4. The yearly sardine run makes for a tasty lunch for hungry dolphins hunting a shoal of fish.

5. A pride of lionesses relax on the grasslands of Tanzania.

6. A migration of a herd of wildebeest cross the Mara river.

7. Members of the Household Cavalry ride through snowy London on horseback.

8. A school of fresh water fish splash around in clear waters.

9. A mass migration of zebra and wildebeest.

10. A mob, gang or clan of meerkats.

11. A murmuration of starlings.

12. A multitude of birds blacken the evening sky as they take flight with the moon behind their wings.