This is the touching moment a monkey was given a HUGE hug by its family after it was released back into the wild.<br /><br />The clip, which was filmed in Amanzimtoti, South Africa last October, shows Tracy Rowles releasing a rehabilitated vervet monkey called Pearce. <br /><br />A student at Kingsway High School in Amanzimtoti spotted the young vervet monkey in need of help with a seriously injured leg.<br /><br />The student contacted Umsizi Vervet Rescue Centre, a rescue organisation run by Rowles. <br /><br />A team of volunteers went out as quickly as they could and, after hours of trying, eventually caught Pearce.<br /><br />Pearce’s family members were furious, fearing the team was going to hurt the young monkey.<br /><br />Pearce was taken to the vet and then to the rescue centre to recover.<br /><br />Three weeks later and it was time for him to be released, but finding Pearce's family was far from easy. Vervet monkeys roam for many miles.<br /><br />However, after hours of searching, the team eventually located them sitting on top of a building on some school football fields.<br /><br />When Rowles opened the cage, Pearce hopped out and climbed the building on which his family were sitting.<br /><br />Recognising him at once, a family member hauled him onto the roof where he was embraced warmly by his troop, who had perhaps feared they'd never see him again.<br /><br />The video was filmed by long-time volunteer Nigel Wright.
