"When Perfect Timing Meets Hilarious Accidents: Photos You Can't Unsee

10. An Offended Gorilla With a Lot to Say

In a funny interaction that highlights the amazing intelligence and personality of great apes, a zoo visitor discovered himself unexpectedly nonverbally interacting with a gorilla that soon turned into a humorous gesture fight. Starting with the gorilla's unexpected first motion, which gives the middle finger to the visitor, the series of pictures brilliantly catches the evolution of this unusual interaction. The fact that the visitor responds in kind and causes the gorilla to react even more dynamically makes this scenario more interesting.

The last picture in the sequence depicts the gorilla's apparent disgust at having its own gesture turned back at it, therefore reflecting a range of emotions that is nearly human-like in their complexity. The protective glass barrier not only reminds us of the great cognitive capacity of these amazing animals but also made possible this safe yet highly fascinating interaction. It is even more valuable since the whole exchange was photographed since it records the whole arc of this unusual interaction, from the initial provocation to the gorilla's last response, so providing a perfect example of the unanticipated events that can arise during wildlife contacts.