A chimpanzee at a zoo in India is proof that it is not just humans that can be affected by unfortunate hair loss.

Guru, a 20-year-old male chimp at the Mysore Zoo in southern India, is a star attraction at the animal park due to an extreme case of alopecia that has left him completely hairless. His bald body leaves him looking curiously human and has drawn the attention of visitors from all over the world. A vet at the zoo, Dr Suresh Kumar, has said Guru's exposed anatomy makes for a curious sight.

"He looks like a human being sitting naked in front of you," he said. "Everybody wants to see his biceps and triceps - it looks amazing."

Chimpanzee experts have been unable to pinpoint the cause of Guru's condition, but believe that it could have been triggered by a traumatic experience in the animal's life - in the same way that many human cases of alopecia can be traced back to a traumatic incident or period.

He was already bald when he was rescued from a local circus around 10 years ago. Doctors have tried a number of alopecia and hair loss treatments on him, but they have yet to see any positive results.

Guru's hair loss has not made him any more shy than other chimps, however, constantly making noise and throwing stones and faeces at intrigued visitors. Dr Suresh added, "He beats his chest, and claps a lot when children come near his enclosure."