This is the amusing moment a mother and daughter took photos with an orangutan at a Thai zoo.

The Chinese tourist and her toddler sat next to the primate wearing plaid blue shorts at Safari World in Bangkok, Thailand.

Footage shows the well-behaved animal smiling at the camera while striking a pose on August 16.

Moments later, it stood up behind the woman with one arm raised before shifting into another stance.

The orangutan then rested its head on the vacationer's lap for the final snapshots, while the visibly startled young girl clung to her mother's arm.

Tourist photoshoots with orangutans in zoos often raise ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. Critics argue that these interactions can lead to stress and unnatural behaviours in primates.

Animal rights organisations often disapprove of practices where animals, like orangutans, are used for entertainment or tourist photos, as they claim it can lead to stress and exploitation.

Activists at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have previously made calls to ban the use of the orangutans in souvenir holiday pictures. They claim they are 'exploited and humiliated'.

The zoo has continually defended the use of the orangutans, with tourists paying around 500 Baht (11 GBP) each for a brief picture session with the primates.

A spokesman said: 'The orangutans are the stars. They are treated exceptionally well and have fantastic lives. Staff and tourists adore them.'

Suddan Wisudthiluck, from the Thammasat University, Anthropology Department, said that animals are 'seen as friends or family members'.