The 35 Most Surprising Photos of the Month

A man falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta on Aug. 31, 2014.
A man falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta on Aug. 31, 2014.DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI—REUTERS
By TIME Photo
Police arrest a demonstrator dressed in a polar bear costume during the "Flood Wall Street" protest to bring awareness to climate change, in New York on Sept. 22, 2014.
Police arrest a demonstrator dressed in a polar bear costume during the "Flood Wall Street" protest to bring awareness to climate change, in New York on Sept. 22, 2014. MICHAEL APPLETON—The New York Times/Redux
A Kyrgyz stuntman performing during the first World Nomad Games in the Kyrchin (Semenovskoe) gorge, about 300 km from Bishkek on Sept. 10, 2014.
A Kyrgyz stuntman performing during the first World Nomad Games in the Kyrchin gorge, about 300 km from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Sept. 10, 2014.VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO—AFP/Getty Images
Veterinarian Tristan Rich removes a life-threatening head tumor from George, a 10-year-old pet goldfish, on Sept. 11, 2014.
Veterinarian Tristan Rich removes a life-threatening head tumor from George, a 10-year-old pet goldfish, on Sept. 11, 2014.REUTERS
In preparation for the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, Swiss mountain sports specialist Mammut and mountain guides from the village of Zermatt transformed the spectacular summit into a shining stone icon as an anniversary gift to Zermatt on Sept. 16, 2014.
In preparation for the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, Swiss mountain sports specialist Mammut and mountain guides from the village of Zermatt transformed the spectacular summit into a shining stone icon as an anniversary gift to Zermatt on Sept. 16, 2014.Robert Boesch—AP
CZECH-ANIMALS-SNAKE-RECORD
Circus director Jaromir Joo is seen behind two snakes during a record attempt on Sept. 9, 2014 on St James Square in Brno, Czech Republic. Three boa constrictors and two pythons, weighing more than 500 kilograms, were laid on Joo.RADEK MICA—AFP/Getty Images
Feifei, 21, undergoes a breast implant surgery at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui province, China on September 1, 2014. Feifei, a third-year university student and a part-time model, received a free breast implant surgery in return for advertising for the hospital. Around 10 days after the operation, she won a prize at a local beauty contest.
Feifei, 21, undergoes breast implant surgery at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui province, China on Sept. 1, 2014. Feifei, a third-year university student and a part-time model, received a free breast implant surgery in return for advertising for the hospital. Around 10 days after the operation, she won a prize at a local beauty contest.JIANAN YU—REUTERS
Misha, a brown bear waits for his first dental treatment in his enclosure at the Poznan Zoo in Poznan, Poland on Sept. 5, 2014.
Misha, a brown bear waits for his first dental treatment in his enclosure at the Poznan Zoo in Poznan, Poland on Sept. 5, 2014.JAKUB KACZMARCZYK—EPA
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes part in a presentation with a patient simulator during his visit to the trauma centre of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Sept. 5, 2014.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes part in a presentation with a patient simulator during his visit to the trauma centre of the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Sept. 5, 2014.ADNAN ABIDI—REUTERS
Piglets are carried over floodwaters by a resident as they return to their home after fleeing earlier due to a swollen river in suburban San Mateo, Rizal province, Philippines on Sept. 15, 2014.
Piglets are carried over floodwaters by a resident as they return to their home after fleeing earlier due to a swollen river in suburban San Mateo, Rizal province, Philippines on Sept. 15, 2014. Aaron Favila—AP
A cataract eye patient during 'Brightness Action' free eye surgical treatment campaign in Yangon, Myanmar on Sept. 4, 2014.
A cataract eye patient during 'Brightness Action' a free eye surgical treatment campaign in Yangon, Myanmar on Sept. 4, 2014.LYNN BO BO—EPA
An Indian laborer loads goods on a bike at Chawri Bazar, in New Delhi on Sept. 1, 2014.
An Indian laborer loads goods on a bike at Chawri Bazar, in New Delhi on Sept. 1, 2014. Bernat Armangue—AP
A student sitting on a mock-up of the royalty chair, looks at a wax figure of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, while others take souvenir photos, at the Madame Tussauds Museum in Beijing on Sept. 19, 2014.
A student sitting on a mock-up of the royalty chair, looks at a wax figure of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, while others take souvenir photos, at the Madame Tussauds Museum in Beijing on Sept. 19, 2014. Andy Wong—AP
Rebecca Redwine from Grandma's in the Park has one eye visible from between nealry 100 towels as she competes in the towel carrying contest during the 10th annual Iron Range Housekeeping Olympics on Sept. 8, 2014, at AmericInn in Virginia, Minn.
Rebecca Redwine from Grandma's in the Park has one eye visible from between nealry 100 towels as she competes in the towel carrying contest during the 10th annual Iron Range Housekeeping Olympics on Sept. 8, 2014, at AmericInn in Virginia, Minn.Mark Sauer—AP
A performer practices a dance move before taking part in at the festivities marking the end of the annual harvest festival of Onam in Trichur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Sept. 10, 2014.
A performer practices a dance move before taking part in at the festivities marking the end of the annual harvest festival of Onam in Trichur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Sept. 10, 2014. BABU—REUTERS
Pope Francis celebrates the wedding of 20 couples in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Sept. 14, 2014.
Pope Francis celebrates the wedding of 20 couples in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Sept. 14, 2014. Alamy Live News
A Kurdish woman runs away from a water cannon near the Syrian border after Turkish authorities temporarily closed the border at the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, on Sept. 22, 2014.
A Kurdish woman runs away from a water cannon near the Syrian border after Turkish authorities temporarily closed the border at the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, on Sept. 22, 2014. BULENT KILIC—AFP/Getty Images
Medical staff carry James Dorbor, 8, suspected of having Ebola, into a treatment facility in Monrovia, Liberia on Sept. 5, 2014.
Medical staff carry James Dorbor, 8, suspected of having Ebola, into a treatment facility in Monrovia, Liberia on Sept. 5, 2014.DANIEL BEREHULAK—The New York Times/Redux
An Italian Navy boat carries 956 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea on Sept. 12, 2014.
An Italian Navy boat carries 956 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea on Sept. 12, 2014.Giuseppe Lami—ZUMA PRESS
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks over papers while flying from Jordan to Iraq on Sept. 10, 2014.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks over papers while flying from Jordan to Iraq on Sept. 10, 2014. Brendan Smialowski—REUTERS
An Indian Kashmiri man crosses over flood waters with the use of a rope in Srinagar on Sept. 9, 2014.
An Indian Kashmiri man crosses over flood waters with the use of a rope in Srinagar on Sept. 9, 2014. PUNIT PARANJPE—AFP/Getty Images
A sculpture of a giant hippopotamus, "HippopoThames", built by artist Florentjin Hofman is towed up the Thames past the Houses of Parliament in central London on Sept. 2, 2014.
A sculpture of a giant hippopotamus, "HippopoThames", built by artist Florentjin Hofman is towed up the Thames past the Houses of Parliament in central London on Sept. 2, 2014.ANDREW WINNING—REUTERS
A man falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta on Aug. 31, 2014.
A man falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in grease, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, outside Valletta on Aug. 31, 2014.DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI—REUTERS
An art installation by Brazilian artist Eduardo Srur made with a life-size mannequin stands over the highly polluted Pinheiros River in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sept. 18, 2014.
An art installation by Brazilian artist Eduardo Srur made with a life-size mannequin stands over the highly polluted Pinheiros River in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sept. 18, 2014. Andre Penner—AP
Li Zhiheng, an amateur athlete, holds up his hands as he rolls down a stairway during a morning exercise at a park in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Sept. 11, 2014.
Li Zhiheng, an amateur athlete, holds up his hands as he rolls down a stairway during a morning exercise at a park in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Sept. 11, 2014.CHINA STRINGER NETWORK/REUTERS
A giant rabbit, 25.3-meter in length, made of plastic and wood and designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is displayed during an art exhibition in Taoyuan county on Sept. 2, 2014.
A giant rabbit, 25.3-meter in length, made of plastic and wood and designed by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is displayed during an art exhibition in Taoyuan county, Taiwan on Sept. 2, 2014. SAM YEH—AFP/Getty Images
A South Korean diver performs a traditional masked dance to promote an event to celebrate the upcoming Chuseok holiday at an aquarium in Seoul on Sept.1, 2014.
A South Korean diver performs a traditional masked dance to promote an event to celebrate the upcoming Chuseok holiday at an aquarium in Seoul on Sept.1, 2014. JUNG YEON-JE—AFP/Getty Images
North Koreans play shooting games in an arcade at the Kaeson Youth Amusement Park on Sept. 3, 2014 in Pyongyang.
North Koreans play shooting games in an arcade at the Kaeson Youth Amusement Park on Sept. 3, 2014 in Pyongyang.Wong Maye-E—AP
U.S. singers Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett arrive at a news conference, ahead of their concert, in Brussels on Sept. 22, 2014.
Singers Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett arrive at a news conference, ahead of their concert, in Brussels on Sept. 22, 2014. YVES HERMAN—REUTERS
Deputies of Lega eat ice cream in the senate while Prime Minister Matteo Renzi speaks on the implementation of a government program on Sept. 16, 2014 in Rome.
Deputies of Lega eat ice cream in the senate while Prime Minister Matteo Renzi speaks on the implementation of a government program on Sept. 16, 2014 in Rome.Fabio Cimaglia—ZUMA PRESS
Models present creations by Dries Van Noten during the 2015 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on Sept. 24, 2014 in Paris.
Models present creations by Dries Van Noten during the 2015 Spring/Summer ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on Sept. 24, 2014 in Paris. MIGUEL MEDINA—AFP/Getty Images
A female Alpine Ibex, a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps, licks stones on a vertical dam (up to 80°) at Cingino Lake on Sept. 22, 2014, near Antrona Piana, Italy.
A female Alpine Ibex, a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps, licks stones on a vertical dam (up to 80°) at Cingino Lake on Sept. 22, 2014, near Antrona Piana, Italy.OLIVIER MORIN—AFP/Getty Images
Alexander Kharatokin plays with a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha on the banks of the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia on Sept. 19, 2014.
Alexander Kharatokin plays with a 9-month-old brown bear named Masha on the banks of the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Siberia on Sept. 19, 2014. ILYA NAYMUSHIN—REUTERS
Chinese workers set up giant decoration flowers in preparation for National Day at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China on Sept. 18, 2014.
Chinese workers set up giant decoration flowers in preparation for National Day at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 18, 2014.HOW HWEE YOUNG—EPA
A dog owner sprays hairspray on her poodle backstage at a dog show in Seoul on Aug. 30, 2014.
A dog owner sprays hairspray on her poodle backstage at a dog show in Seoul on Aug. 30, 2014.ED JONES—AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian fighters partly wearing non-official uniforms stands next to a tank in a military camp based on a front line near Pervomaysk city of Lugansk region, Ukraine on Sept 12, 2014.
Ukrainian fighters partly wearing non-official uniforms stands next to a tank in a military camp based on a front line near Pervomaysk city of Lugansk region, Ukraine on Sept 12, 2014.ROMAN PILIPEY—EPA

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