KIWI, a Bornean female orangutan, has been welcomed with open arms at Wareham’s Monkey World after she was rejected by her mother.

She met up with Sibu Jr on November 15 – another orangutan who joined Monkey World last month after his mother was unable to feed him.

Kiwi was born at Rio Safari Elche in Spain in December 2023, but was rejected by her mother not long after her birth.

Despite the zoo’s best efforts to reintroduce Kiwi to her mother as well as attempting to see if another female orangutan would adopt her, they were unsuccessful and were then forced to hand-rear to save the young female’s life, while her move to Monkey World could be arranged.

READ MORE: Baby orangutan finds new family at Monkey World

The orangutan team leader at Monkey World, Donna Phillips, travelled to Spain to meet Kiwi, spending a month getting to know her before travelling back to the UK on board P&O ferries with the director of Rio Safari Elche and Kiwi’s carer, Anabel Ibanez, to make the transition smooth and stress free for the endangered youngster.

Kiwi was a VIP, very important primate on board P&O Ferries Picture: Monkey World

Kiwi’s journey was sponsored by P&O ferries, who ensured Kiwi was treated to a VIP – Very Important Primate – service.

Monkey World is home to Europe’s official orangutan crèche, where orphaned or rejected orangutans can grow up with other youngsters, under the care of an orangutan foster mother, and learn all the skills vital to survival, and potentially future child-rearing of their own.

The nursery is currently home to four other young orangutans born in zoos in Hungary, Germany and the UK, who were also unable to be reared by their own mothers.

At Monkey World they are now cared for by the crèche foster mother Oshine, a Bornean orangutan who was rescued from the illegal pet trade in South Africa in 2010.

Your Purbeck Gazette previously reported on three-month-old Sibu Jr joining the orangutan crèche last month after his mother was unable to feed him.

This means the keepers will have double trouble with two youngsters to care for before they join the nursery full-time.

“Kiwi, weighing a little over 5kg, and at a few months older than Sibu, has begun spending time within the nursery during the day, to watch the older orangutans but she still needs milk feeds in the evening as well as comfort, so Kiwi and Sibu spend evenings and mornings together with the specialist Monkey World care team,” a Monkey World spokesperson said.

Rio Safari Elche Director Anabel travelled with Kiwi to Monkey World where they were met by Alison Cronin, Director of Monkey World who was already caring for orphan orangutan Sibu Picture: Monkey World

“On arrival at the park and over the weekend, Kiwi met young Sibu and both were interested in each other.

“Kiwi is a confident individual with strong opinions on when and where she should be fed, and where she should sleep!

“Young Sibu will have some catching up to do to impress his new adopted older sister!”

Monkey World Director, Dr Alison Cronin MBE, has been caring for the pair and said: “The orangutan nursery at Monkey World provides specialist care and facilities for orphan orangutans.

“It is so important that the babies grow up with others of their own kind rather than with people so that they mature into health and well-adjusted adults.

Monkey World team leader of orangutans went to meet Kiwi and travel with her back to the park in Dorset Picture: Monkey World

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

“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”

Monkey World said it has “every faith” these young, endangered orang-utans will thrive in the nursery together, enjoying years of playing, climbing and learning from their adopted siblings and mother.