This edition of The Dodo top 5 include some incredible animal encounters out in nature and in some backyards.

A family of gorillas decided to give one photographer some up close pictures when they all approached and surrounded him. The curious babies were the first to come close when they decided to investigate the photographers clothes and hair. The father then also felt safe enough to join in and interact with the man. The photographer stayed nervously still while the family gave him lots of pats and kisses and eventually left him behind to continue their journey. Support the Dian Fossey Gorilla fund at http://thedo.do/fossey.  

UCLA and Melanie Barboni captured the footage of a woman who managed to find daily happiness in something as small as hummingbirds. Her fascination with these birds led her to placing a bird feeder outside her office. Two years later over 200 birds visit her daily as an essential pit stop to refuel after a hard day of work.

When the usual beachside home of some turtles was threatened by overdevelopment

this woman stepped up to the rescue. With a group of volunteers, a woman turned her front yard into a safe place for tiny turtles with over 40 nests available for them. The volunteers care for the turtles until they are ready to be released into nature. You can support the Turtle Conservancy at http://thedo.do/saveturtles.  

A woman who suffers from really bad anxiety decided to turn to the birds in her backyard for emotional support. She began to befriend the Magpie’s in her yard and the birds eventually got used to her and started visiting her daily. Her time with them became a form of calming therapy that is keeping her less anxious. The woman is attempting to debunk the reputation these birds have for being mean by showing the world just how sweet they are. Find The Magpie Whisperer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagpiewhisperer/.

A photographer that traveled to Eastern Serbia to photograph shy seals that live there finally got his extra special picture. The photographer was not only able to photograph this cautious and shy animal, he also got an adorable little wave back from the seal pup in a picture that took three years to capture.