Mother and daughter orangutans ready for visitors at zoo

A mother and daughter pair of orangutans are the latest new arrivals at a zoo.

Bornean orangutans Mali, 25, and her eight-year-old daughter Tatau have been settling in at Colchester Zoo since February, but with indoor areas of the park having remained shut because of Covid restrictions, they have so far been kept behind closed doors.

With the zoo now set to fully reopen, the pair – who arrived from Paignton Zoo in Devon – will finally be available for visitors to view.

Mali and Tatau join the zoo’s 19-year-old male Tiga, who has been on his own since December 2018 when the park’s other orangutan, Rajang, died after nearly 40 years at the attraction.

According to the zoo, Tiga has “accepted his new companions very quickly”.

Mali is described as “a devoted mum”, while Tatau is “very playful”, according to staff.

Keepers are continuing to keep a close eye on them both as they become accustomed to their new surroundings.

Bornean orangutans, which can live to around the age of 50, are critically endangered in the wild, largely because of the destruction of their habitat.