This touching photo of an orphaned baby rhesus macaques and its inseparable friend reminds us of the comfort and companionship offered to us and many other species by what some humans refer to as “dumb animals.”

The photo, which appeared in Audubon magazine, was taken at a nature reserve on Neilingding Island, not far from Hong Kong. The island is home to over 1,000 rhesus macaques, a protected species in China.

Pigeons have shared a bond with humans for over 5,000 years as message carriers in war and peace. Ancient Greeks used pigeons to relay results of the Olympic Games and the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo was first delivered to England by a pigeon.

Click here to find out more about homing pigeons; for more details on the photo, click here.