A baby chimpanzee was rejected by his mother at a Russian Zoo two years ago. When one of the employees of the zoo took the little chimpanzee home to care for it, she had never thought her 100-pound Mastiff, who recently had four pups, would take on the role of foster mother for the orphaned chimp. 

But the gentle dog, let the orphaned chimp cuddle to her and hold onto her like he would a mother.  

The baby chimp holds onto the dog, much like chimps in the wild. The animals must be in constant touch their mothers to feel safe. 

Like dogs, chimpanzees are social animals and are best raised in groups of their own kind.

Although nothing more appears to be published about what happened next to the baby chimp, he likely returned to the zoo soon after. 

• chimpanzee
• Mastiff