WATCH: Touching moment dying chimp recognises long-term carer

A dying chimpanzee who refused to eat and was curled up in a ball, has had an emotional reunion with her old carer.

Footage shows 59-year-old Mama turning her face away from a syringe of food and lying on a blanket at the Royal Burgers Zoo in the Netherlands.

Screeching with pleasure and smiling in delight, Mama can be seen stretching out her hand and stroking Professor van Hooff’s head in greeting.

Initially she had not recognised him and persisted in her unresponsive behaviour. Earlier in the video she can be seen refusing food and water as she lies in a weak state among hay.

But her bond with Professor van Hooff – who co-founded her chimp colony at the Arnhem zoo – was deep enough to shake her from her gloom.

The video was filmed in April 2016. Mama died just a week after giving her old friend a heartfelt farewell.

The pair had known each other since 1972 with professor Hooff setting up the chimpanzee colony she lived in, The Mirror reported.

Professor Hooff spent Mama’s final few days by her side.

Her chimp colony were also divided into groups to say their goodbyes to the “grand lady.”

“She had an exceptionally strong and dominant personality, so that no man who wanted to come to power could do so around her. She also brought consolation when there were tensions and mediated conflicts,” behavioural scientist Frans de Waal said.

“She will be sorely missed, also by me, because I have rarely seen such an admirable character in both humans and apes.”