These are the incredible new pictures of a boy who became friends with a group of marmots. Matteo Walch struck up a remarkable bond with the alpine marmots when he was first introduced to the animals his nature-loving family, when he was just four years old. And as these incredible new images of Matteo, now 11, show, his bond with the usually-shy creatures is more than just a fleeting friendship. Matteo and his mum mum Michaela, a schoolteacher from Innsbruck, Austria, return to visit the colony of Marmots in Großglockner in the Austrian alps for two weeks every year. While there Matteo spends time feeding, cuddling and having his photo taken with his furry friends. His unusual relationship with the animals generated worldwide interest when images of the adorable companions first appeared in the media in 2012. And now as these fantastic new images show, Matteo still enjoys a strong friendship with the marmots – seven years after they first met. Matteo's mum Michaela, 48, is a semi-professional photographer and every year she has been documenting Matteo's relationship with the marmots. She said: "I have been going to see the marmots every year, this year will be our tenth year. "Matteo was two years old when we drove to see the marmots for the first time but he didn't meet them properly until he was four. "The Großglockner is famous for the fact that the marmots are accustomed to people and rather trusting them. "They are ordinarily very shy, but in the Großglockner it is possible to feed them with carrots and apples from your hand. "Matteo's favourite marmot is the groundhog. He observes them with pleasure, it is almost like he wanted to study them. "What is special about Matteo's friendship with them is that he is patient and he sits and rests with them, especially with the groundhogs. "There is one marmot Matteo loves in particular, he has no tail and that is how we find him easily. "He is always the first one to run out and greet Matteo and for as long as this marmot lives, Matteo will ask for us to drive to see the marmots over and over again." ENDS