Animal reserve welcomes endangered orangutans

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve says there are 15 Sumatran orangutans in the UK

An animal reserve in Kent is now home to two critically endangered Sumatran orangutans.

Brothers Hadjah, 16, and Malou, 11, have come to the Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Hythe from Switzerland.

Orangutans are currently classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list with about 14,000 of the species left worldwide, the reserve says.

The goal is to "rewild" the brothers, if possible, Port Lympne said.

Animal director Simon Jeffery said: “We are so happy to offer Hadjah and Malou the sanctuary they deserve within our park and proud to be part of the conservation of this incredible species."

There are 144 Sumatran orangutans in European zoos, with 15 in the UK, the reserve said.