The Warsaw Zoo is currently housing an unusual species of primates – a pair of humans.

Actors posing as cavemen are on display in cages as part of a new exhibition to spark interest in man’s Neanderthal past.

The couple go about the lives of human ancestors for a few hours every day to promote interest in the theatrical play “Caveman.”

Visitors wandering around the primate section of the zoo are startled to find their own kind in a cage.

[Zbigniew Zych, Neanderthal Actor]:
"This world is very small and we feel safe behind these bars. All of the people on the other side react in so many ways and they are more surprised, scared and confused than us."

Warsaw Zoo director Andrzej Kruszewicz says the venture has deeper meaning than just the commercial.

[Andrzej Kruszewicz. Warsaw Zoo Director]:
"The zoological garden is a lovely place where you breed endangered species and showing an animal in the cage is something normal and common. We wanted to promote the idea that we haven't moved so far away from the animal world. That we are closer to animals than we sometimes think."

Some visitors, like this youngster, were both shocked and intrigued to see humans behind cage bars.

[Julia Pikon, Zoo Visitor]:
"She has been sitting motionless for at least 5 minutes. She doesn't react at all, she is in shock."

The humans will be on display until Sunday.