FAMILY reunions can be rather awkward affairs. But these long-lost relatives were quick to break the ice in the warmest of ways - with a great big bear hug.

Kesho the gorilla and his younger brother Alf had been apart for nearly three years after being sent to different zoos.

They were reunited this week in their new home in Longleat Safari Park and welcomed each other with open arms - followed by shoulder squeezes, handshakes and the odd bit of brotherly rough and tumble.

media_camera Things got pretty playful between the pair after they were reunited. Picture: Media Picture

The pair will now live together in a £3million enclosure at the Wiltshire park.

Born at Dublin Zoo, they were separated when Kesho, 13, was sent to London Zoo to take part in a breeding programme.

He proved to be infertile, but while living with three females as the dominant male he became the leader of the pack - and transformed from a small blackback gorilla to a strapping great 35st silverback who towers over his nine-year-old brother.

media_camera The two males hadn't seen each other in three years. Picture: Media Picture

Fortunately, this wasn't enough to stop Alf recognising him. Gorillas, which share 98 per cent of their DNA with humans, can identify each other by the shape of their noses.

Mark Tye, head gorilla keeper at Longleat, said: 'We weren't entirely sure that the brothers would even know each other, but the moment they met you could just see the recognition in their eyes.

'They were very animated and there was a lot of rough and tumble, but not in an aggressive way. It is quite unusual to see that sort of childlike behaviour in a silverback.'



Originally published as Reunited gorilla siblings hug it out