This cheeky meerkat appeared to have offended a rather prim giraffe after wandering into its enclosure.

The tiny mammal bounded into the giraffe's pen, sparking the curiosity of the larger beast.

The pair inspected one another solemnly, with the meerkat stretching out a little paw and appearing to give the giraffe a kiss.



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Going for it: The meerkat is dwarfed by the giraffe as it goes in for a kiss


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Nice to meet you: The meerkat reaches out a pas as it is inspected by the giraffe


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Good day out: The meerkat is distracted by something as the giraffe continues its inspection

But it seemed the giraffe was not that sort of giraffe - and the meerkat had pushed its luck too far.

It was forced to flee when the giraffe started kicking its hooves.

The remarkable confrontation was captured by 40-year-old photographer Alfonso Paz at Lisbon Zoo, Portugal.

He said: 'Two meerkats escaped from their enclosure and were playing with each other along the road that led to the giraffes.

'They were hiding here and there as they ran into the giraffes' compound.

'They found some large rocks and as soon as the first meerkat appeared standing up between the rocks, a young giraffe approach them.

'I was fascinated as the giraffe and the meerkat just stared at each other for a few moments - I had never seen anything like it.

'I didn't even prepare the camera at first because I didn't want to disturb what was happening.

'But then the giraffe leaned over the meerkat and touched its head. Then they started playing with each other.

'At one point the meerkat seemed to give the giraffe a little kiss on the cheek.'

Alfonso said that something then seemed to irritate the giraffe and it started kicking out at the meerkat.

He added: 'All hell broke loose.

'The giraffe seemed to be offended and started kicking in every direction and the other giraffes started running in every direction and jumping and kicking.

'The meerkats seemed to enjoy the scene because they stayed for a while longer before going back to their compound.'