Baby gorilla pictured 'relaxing' in human-like pose

Evolution: The proof is in the puddin'...

J.A.C.

It's a hard life for some but not for this baby gorilla pictured relaxing in a human-like pose resting in the sun.

Published: 9:33AM GMT 03 Feb 2010

Seemingly without a care in the world six-month-old lowland gorilla baby Yewande leans back with her arms behind her head.

They are expertly balanced on a strip of cloth suspended between two wooden struts in her enclosure forming almost a hammock behind her head.

Yewande - from Calgary Zoo, Canada - decided to take some time out after spending a good half and hour playing with her favourite pink blanket.

In another shot Yewande's huge silverback dad Kakinga dwarfs the youngster as he wanders over to check on his chilled-out offspring.

Yewande's exploits were caught on camera by zoo visitor Nancy Chow, 66, who was amazed by the pose struck by the baby primate.

Nancy, from Alberta, Canada, said: "When I took this shot I love it right away because the baby gorilla was so adorable, Yewande looks so human-like.

"It is easy to see how closely we are related to these great apes, Yewande's pose could be any one of us taking a well-earned break.

"Except I don't think I could do that with my feet.

"She had been playing around with her blanket just before she decided to relax.

"What was she thinking, perhaps that life is good, she is such a happy baby and well cared for."

Nancy said that the reason for Yewande's happiness may have something to do with how many relatives she has looking after her.

She said: "Actually when she was born Yewande's mother Zuri lost interest in the mothering department shortly after the birth.

"But that zoo keepers had to stepped in to make sure Yewande was getting enough to eat, and so did three gorillas.

"That included Yewande?s big sister, five-year-old Barika who spends a lot of time with the baby.

"If both mother and sister are away, the male silverback, and father, Kakinga, will sit with the baby."

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/7145982/Baby-gorilla-pictured-relaxing-in-human-like-pose.html