Baby orangutan's first-class ticket to new home

Kiwi settled in to her first class seat as she sailed across the English Channel

When you're a baby orangutan facing a long and daunting trip abroad, a bit of luxury goes a long way.

Kiwi was given a first-class ticket as she sailed across the English Channel with her carers to start a new life in Dorset.

Born in a Spanish conservation centre, the nearly-one-year-old was rejected by her mother.

After attempts for another orangutan to adopt her failed, she has moved to Monkey World in Wareham - home to Europe's specialist orangutan creche.

Kiwi was rejected by her mother shortly after her birth

She made the 90-minute journey from Calais to Dover in the best available seats of the P&O ferry Liberte to ensure she had a stress-free place to stay for the crossing.

Jack Steer, P&O Ferries port operations director, said: "It is not every day we have an orangutan onboard and it was a special day for our P&O Liberte crew who greeted Kiwi and arranged a quiet place for her to stay as she sailed across the English Channel."

Kiwi is the second baby orangutan to join the creche at the Dorset ape rescue centre for orphaned and rejected youngsters in recent weeks.

Kiwi spent the crossing with her carer from the Rio Safari Elche in Spain, Anabel Ibanez, to make the transition smooth and stress free

Three-month-old Sibu moved to the centre in October from Dublin Zoo after his mother was unable to feed him.

Monkey World said Kiwi had settled in with Sibu, spending time together within the nursery to watch the older orangutans.

Still needing night milk feeds as well as comfort, Kiwi and Sibu spend evenings and mornings together with the specialist Monkey World care team.

They will eventually move up to the nursery full-time with four other young orangutans born in Hungary, Germany and the UK.

'An international crowd'

They are cared for by foster mother Oshine, an orangutan from Borneo rescued from the illegal pet trade in South Africa in 2010.

Monkey World director Dr Alison Cronin said: "It is so important that the babies grow up with others of their own kind rather than with people so that they mature into healthy and well-adjusted adults.

"It is hard work caring for two needy orphans but it means the kids will be able to grow up together under the watchful eyes of their older brothers and sisters and adopted mother.

"It is quite an international crowd at the orangutan nursery and, while it is very sad that they are not being cared for by their mothers, all of us from Spain to Ireland to Dorset are doing everything possible to give these gorgeous babies families of their own kind."

With the addition of Kiwi and Sibu, Monkey World said it has cared for 13 orphans from seven countries over the years.