THIS extraordinary photograph shows a family of grief-stricken chimpanzees mourning the death of a fellow ape.
Workers at the chimp rescue centre were amazed when the entire family rushed to the perimeter of their enclosure to pay their final respects to Dorothy.
The normally lively and noisy animals stunned onlookers by standing silently in line with their hands on each other's shoulders for comfort.
They then watched, apparently in quiet contemplation, as the elderly chimp, aged in her 30s, was buried.
The picture gives a rare insight into how chimps react when one of their family dies, showing very human-like emotions.
The photo was taken by Monica Szczupider who was working at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre in eastern Cameroon.
Ms Szczupider, 30, said Dorothy, who died of heart failure after she was taken ill, was a 'prominent figure' within a group of about 25 chimps.
She said: "This is a funeral shot. We were burying Dorothy. We brought her in the wheelbarrow to let the others see.
"It was unbelievably emotional. We were all struck. Even the employees, all of whom grew up as villagers potentially eating apes, before they were a delicacy, were emotional.
"I think every last one of us was silenced by their silence."
Read more: Chimps mourn pal's passing | The Sun |News
