This is the tender moment a lonely prairie dog reached through its cage for human touch - ignoring a sign that says no contact.

The tiny rodent named Tang Gas was alone in its enclosure and sweetly extended both front limbs through the gaps to hold a booth visitor's hand in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, on March 16.

A sign of the cage says 'no poking' to prevent visitors from from touching the pet, leaving him lonely and desperately seeking affection.

But footage shows Tang Gas holding hands with the passerby while staring at her. Whenever the woman would let go, the animal reached out again for more with its face squeezed between the metal bars.

Pet fair-goer Nutchaya Rasee said: ‘It happened at a pet fair at Central Chiang Mai Airport at the booth of Lanna Mini Zoo. The prairie dog was very sweet.'

Although there was a sign that said ‘do not poking' in bold letters to prevent people from touching the animals, Nutchaya said she couldn't resist the gentle Tang Gas' invitation to hold hands.

She said: ‘Maybe the sign that was posted was wrong. Tang Gas was the exception.'

Prairie dogs are highly social animals that live in close-knit colonies. Members of the colony kiss and nuzzle each other, which can seem affectionate.