Bobo the silverback gorilla is a massive creature. Weighing in at 350 pounds (approx. 159 kg), the 24-year-old senior primate looks to be a formidable force to be reckoned with.
As shown by this adorable video from
Ape Action Africa, though, his size doesn’t quite add up with his caring demeanor—and the size disparity between himself and his tiny new friend is perfect proof of just how gentle he can be.
Filmed at the
Mefou Primate Sanctuary in Cameroon by site coordinator
Alex Benitez, the video follows Bobo around with a miniature bush baby. The smaller primate, who weighs around 7 ounces (approx. 198 g), stays close to its new friend even though it’s barely the size of Bobo’s finger.
Bush babies range in weight from a handful of ounces to a couple of pounds (under 1 kg), depending on the species. This one is especially tiny, though, and their friendship truly highlights that.
The video was explained further by Benitez and the sanctuary, who explained just how rare the sighting was and how truly adorable it appeared to be:
Our silverback gorilla Bobo made a surprising new friend this week—a wild bush baby! Caregivers discovered him cradling the tiny primate during their morning checks and were amazed to see him handling it with the utmost care—proving that gorillas really are the gentle giants of the forest.
Bobo’s group-mates were desperately curious, particularly his favorite female Avishag, but he kept them all at a distance, making sure that no one disturbed his new friend. Bush babies are usually nocturnal, so it is very rare to see one, and even rarer to witness this kind of interaction.
The interaction is clearly unique because of the traditionally nocturnal behaviors of the bush babies, but also because it’s the first time that one of the rescued animals has been seen interacting with a wild one at the sanctuary.
Oh, and it’s important to add—not only is it incredibly rare, it’s probably the cutest thing we’ve ever seen!
