Chimpanzee welcomes visitor with open arms after abandoned alone on island for years

The loneliest chimp in the world just got the best surprise - a hug from a new friend.

Ponso has been by himself for nearly three years, finding himself alone after his wife and children died on the island where they were abandoned by a medical testing company decades ago.

For years a nearby villager named Germain has been Ponso's only company, visiting him every so often to bring bananas and bread - the chimp's only source of food on the tiny island.

Ponso, a chimp that has been living by himself on a tiny island for nearly three years, is all smiles when he gets a visit from Estelle Raballand, the director of the Chimpanzee Conservation Center

Ponso, who lost his partner and two children at the end of 2013, immediately embraced Estelle in a huge hug

It was clear how much Ponso missed companionship when he was recently visited by Estelle Raballand, the director of the Chimpanzee Conservation Center, according to The Dodo.

The chimp immediately embraced Estelle in a huge hug and laughed as she reached out for him, his smile from ear to ear.

For those who know Ponso's backstory, his immediate ease and trust in humans might be surprising.

Ponso was one of 20 chimps, all between the ages of seven to 11 years old, relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast after being used for testing by the New York Blood Center.