A baby chimpanzee has been adopted by a motherly mastiff in Russia.
A zoo keeper took the infant chimp home to hand rear it when the youngster was rejected by her natural mother.
Within hours, say reports, the primate was one of the pack when the family pet dog adopted her as a new puppy.
Now the chimp eats with the mastiff and the family's other pet dogs and even shares their bed.
Experts say dogs are normally frightened of primates because their behaviour is too unpredictable.
But one observer said: "They look completely relaxed with each other. It won't be long before the chimp is taking her mum for walkies."
A zoo keeper took the infant chimp home to hand rear it when the youngster was rejected by her natural mother.
Within hours, say reports, the primate was one of the pack when the family pet dog adopted her as a new puppy.
Now the chimp eats with the mastiff and the family's other pet dogs and even shares their bed.
Experts say dogs are normally frightened of primates because their behaviour is too unpredictable.
But one observer said: "They look completely relaxed with each other. It won't be long before the chimp is taking her mum for walkies."