The orangutan held out its hand to the man who was searching for snakes in the water (Picture: SWNS)

This is the touching moment an orangutan tries to lend a helping hand to a man searching for the animals’ sworn enemies – snakes.

The striking image appears to show the great ape reaching out to assist the man, who is stood in a river. The picture was taken in a conservation forest area in Borneo where the endangered species are protected from hunters.

Anil Prabhakar was out trekking with his friends while on safari when he spotted the man – who works as part of the protective project – in the river. He later found out he was clearing away snakes to guard the orangutans – until he was interrupted by an inquisitive ape.



But the amateur photographer revealed the man actually refused the orangutan’s hand after he put away the camera – as it’s a wild animal. Anil, from Indonesia, said: ‘Someone told him there was a snake in the river. The warden went there and cleared the bushes.


The orangutan appeared concerned for the man in the water as he cleared snakes (Picture: SWNS)

The picture was shot in an area in Borneo where orangutans are protected from hunters (Picture: SWNS)

‘An orangutan came to the banks and was watching what he was doing. He then came closer and gave his hand.

‘The warden just moved away. I asked him why later and he said: ‘It’s a wild animal, not one we are familiar with’.

‘But they are to protect them.’

The worker is part of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 1991.

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