This animal lover has literally got a monkey on his back after getting a tattoo – of a life-sized baby gorilla clinging to him.
Water contractor Matt Shearman, 23, got the tattoo on his back to make it look like he is carrying the young ape.
He says he has been obsessed with gorillas since watching Disney hit ”Mighty Joe Young” as a child.
He has always wanted a permanent tribute to his favourite creatures and endured eight painful hours to make his wish come true.
The tattoo makes it look like he is carrying a baby ape on his back – just like mothers do with their young in the wild.
Matt, of Hartfield, East Sussex, claims the paternal look is perfect for chatting up girls.
He said: “I had always wanted to get it done. I have loved gorillas since I was a kid.
“My tattoo is great I really like it but it did hurt – I went numb after about three hours.
“My mates give me a hard time whenever we are on a night out they always shout ‘he’s got a monkey on his back’.
“It gets us lots of attention. It is a great icebreaker and good for hitting on girls.
“When blokes see it they tend to take the piss but girls love it they think it is really cute.
“But I have got a girlfriend, who also loves the tattoo, so I just use it to help hook my mates up.”
The life-like tattoo was inked onto Matt by Josh Hobden from Sean Body Art in Southborough, Kent.
Monkey mad Matt is due to go to travelling for a year in Australia and Thailand on Friday, when he hopes to see apes in the wild.
