Accepted: The animals hug after going through their greeting ritual It may not be the most conventional greeting.
But having just met for the first time, these two gorillas are saying hello in their own unique way.
First, 10-year-old Johari stands firm as Mbeli, six, climbs on her back as they are introduced at Melbourne Zoo in Australia today.
They then swap places, with Mbeli – a Western Lowland gorilla from Taronga Zoo – riding on Johari’s back, her huge arms wrapped around the other’s neck.
After enough aping around, the two animals stand on their legs and embrace, obviously giving each other the nod of approval.
There are another seven gorillas at Melbourne Zoo – with the oldest being Rigo, a 40-year-old male.
However, Mbeli's arrival at Melbourne Zoo was easier than her departure from Taronga.
A statement on Taronga Zoo's website said: 'It was a sad day for primate keepers when our eldest juvenile female gorilla, Mbeli, departed for Melbourne Zoo.
Feeling the strain: Mbeli rides on Johari's back as they ape around 'Our keepers have been working very closely with her over the past few months training her for this big day.
'The day started off as any normal day in the Gorilla House, with keepers meeting to discuss the morning’s events and then positioning the gorillas.
'All went smoothly until the family realised what was happening and Kibabu, our silverback, became very protective.
'He let the keepers know he wasn’t happy with what was going on in no uncertain terms, even vocalising at them.
'A lot of this is just bluff and is quite natural for a silverback to react in this way.
Unusual greeting: Mbeli meets Johari for the first time at Melbourne Zoo'This is part of a silverback’s job to protect his family and that was exactly what Kibabu was doing.'
However, as soon as Mbeli left, he quitened down.
Mbeli was loaded on to a truck and taken to Sydney Airport in a transition to Melbourne Zoo which went 'extremely smoothly'.
'She has settled into her new family life nicely,' the statement added
source: dailymail
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