Animal rescue: The ape uses a leaf as a paddle, bringing the duckling closer before scooping it up in its grips to the shock of the gasping crowdFor a moment, it looked as though an organutan was craving a mid-day snack when it plucked a duckling from the water in its enclosure.
But dramatic footage shows the caring ape appearing to kiss life into its new friend, after finding it floundering in the water, abandoned by its mother.
The five-minute video, recorded by a visitor at an unknown zoo, begins with the orangutan sitting on a rock before it sees the duckling in a pond below and moves in for a closer look.
Seeming to realise the young duck is in trouble, it tears off a leaf from a nearby bush and places it near the bird's mouth, as it tries to latch on.
With no luck, the ape uses the leaf as a paddle, bringing the duckling closer before scooping it up in its gargantuan grips to the shock of the gasping crowd.
A closer look: Video stills capturing the dramatic moment show the duckling latching on to the leaf, offered by its new ape friend
The orangutan then takes the duckling to a grassy part of its enclosure, where it sits, appearing confused by its feathered finding.
The crowd coos at it pets the bird but amazement quickly turned to horror as the animal picks up the baby and brings it to its mouth, appearing ready for a bite.
One woman can be heard shouting, 'Oh! No, no, no!' But children in the background assure her 'He's not trying to hurt him!'
What's this? The orangutan takes the duckling to a grassy part of its enclosure, where it sat, appearing confused by its feathered finding
'Oh no!' Amazement quickly turned to horror as the orangutan picks up the baby and brings it to its mouth, appearing ready for a biteLuckily for the little bird, the ape, which dwarfs it by comparison, lays it back down in the grass.
The five-minute video has already become an instant hit, gaining over 55,000 viewers since it was posted on YouTube on Wednesday.
It was not known at press time if zoo keepers managed to nurse the duckling to safety.
'It's OK': The ape lays the chick back down in the grass and pets its new friend
Meal time? A spokesman from the Orangutan Foundation said it is not unknown for the apes to eat small mammals and eggsCathy Smith, from the Orangutan Foundation, told News Today after seeing the clip: 'They are very intelligent animals and can be very inquisitive.
'Although they mainly eat fruit, it is not unknown for orangutans to eat small mammals and eggs.
'But this shows how chilled out and good at problem solving these amazing creatures are.
'It’s hard to say whether he knew he would be saving the chick but you never know. I have never heard of anything like this before.'
Online hit: The five-minute video has already become an instant hit, gaining over 55,000 viewers since it was posted on YouTube on Wednesday
source :dailymail
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