A fresh study has revealed that gorillas play tag just as human children do. Like human children, Gorillas hone their competitive skills by hitting a playmate and then run away as fast as they can to get the upper hand.

The research carried was out by Dr Marina Davila Ross of Portsmouth University. Dr Ross studied the behaviour of infant as well as teenage gorillas in five German zoos, found infant and teenage gorillas readily involved in playing the tag game, while adult gorillas refused to get involved.

The research showed once again that there is a great similarity between the behaviour of apes and human beings.

Speaking on the astonishing discovery, Dr Ross said, "Not only did the gorillas hit their playmates and then run away chased by their playmates, but they also switched their roles when hit so the chaser became the chased and vice versa."

Playing tag allows gorillas to hone their physical as well as social skills and to learn about their partners.

The discovery made by researchers was based on videos of 21 gorillas from six colonies. The discovery provided further evidence that gorillas and chimpanzees are human's closest relatives.

Earlier in May, German researchers had discovered that bonobos, or pygmy chimpanzees, shake their heads to mean `no', just like people.