ORPHANED baby orang-utan Rieke has spent her first Christmas at Monkey World with adopted brother Bulu Mata.

Rieke arrived at the ape rescue centre earlier this year after being rejected by her mother at Berlin Zoo.

Bulu Mata had only arrived at the Dorset sanctuary a couple of months before her, after his mother died at Budapest Zoo.

However, since their introduction the bond between the pair has gone from strength-to-strength, Monkey World experts are happy to report.

Park director Dr Alison Cronin said: "Monkey World exists to give monkeys and apes their lives back again.

"Both Bula Mata and Rieke were orphaned at a very young age but at the park they have been able to get the specialist care that they need, and the chance to grow up with one each other and their bond is strong.

"Now it is time for them to start meeting and eventually living with others of their own kind - and the nursery creche at Monkey World is perfect for that with orang-utans from Taiwan, South Africa, Spain and now Hungary and Germany.

"It is really wonderful to see two young orphans growing up with the specialist care, companionship and support the need."

Monkey World is home to Europe's only orang-utan creche.

The main threat to orang-utans in the wild, according to Monkey World, is habitat loss due to the logging of forest for agricultural land and, in particular, the palm oil industry.

They are also used in the entertainments industry or as pets.

Explaining the bond between the two young orphans, a Monkey World spokesman said: "Rieke is certainly the more independent and Bulu relies on her to take the lead whenever they are trying something new.

"With Bulu Mata being just over a year old and weighing eight kilos, and Rieke fast approaching her first birthday and weighing 6.92 kilos, the two are very well-matched.

"They enjoy climbing and wrestling but can always be seen cuddled up together when it come to bedtime."