There have been many instances when animals have thrown themselves in harm's way or extended a helping hand to help save a helpless human - one such incident is that of a kind-hearted Orangutan.?
A viral picture shows an orangutan trying to assist a man standing in a river, by offering its outstretched arm.?
The great ape, who lives in a protected conservation forest area in Borneo, was seen leaning forward and lending a helping hand to the man wading through a snake-infested river.?
The heartwarming images were taken by amateur photographer, Anil Prabhakar, from Indonesia, who was on a safari with his friends.?
Speaking to CNN,?Prabhakar said, "There was a report of snakes in that area so the warden came over and he's clearing snakes."I saw an orangutan come very close to him and just offer him his hand."
"I just grabbed that moment. It was really emotional."
Prabhakar said the entire encounter lasted just three or four minutes. "I'm so happy that moment happened to me," he said.??
The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is an Indonesian non-profit organisation founded in 1991.?The foundation, which has 400 members of staff, is currently taking care of?almost 650 orangutans.??
We might be deemed the superior species, but there is more than enough evidence to show that animals are kinder, more compassionate, helpful and empathetic, than humans - this incident is just one such example.