Extraordinary animal behaviour confouds scientists and drinks manufacturers

A rare example of inter-species cooperation has been discovered in the Congo by a team of biologists. A diverse range of jungle species were observed working together to produce a juice which provides their primary source of nutrition.

Local legend holds that the animals regularly come together and use their many specific talents to harvest a variety of tropical fruits to make the juice, however this is the first scientific confirmation of the behaviour. In the UK, this popular tropical juice drink was generally thought to be produced by a well-known soft drinks manufacturer. However, this discovery reveals that it is in fact made in the jungle by a group of friendly animals.

To find the animals, the researchers had to journey way down deep in the middle of the Congo, where they observed Pythons picking passion fruit, alongside Marmosets foraging for mandarins. The behaviour was captured in this remarkable footage. The whole operation appears to be loosely coordinated by a hippo, which combines the fruit to make the juice. One theory is that the hippos use their immense weight to squash the fruit and extract the juice, before a parrot packages it to be sold on for profit.

The drink has apparently become a big hit in the jungle. "From our observations" said the lead researcher, "we conclude that they all prefer the sunny, funny one they call Um Bongo".