Tigers have topped a poll to find the world's favourite animal.
The big cat narrowly beat dogs in the survey of 50,000 people in 73 countries, who were asked to choose from a shortlist of 10 creatures.
Dolphins came third, with horses and lions making up the top five in the poll by the Animal Planet channel.
"We can relate to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside, but noble on the inside," said an animal expert who worked on the survey.
The result was welcomed by animal charities because the tiger is threatened in many parts of the world and has died out in others.
"If people are voting tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival," a WWF spokesman said.