Sweet moment orangutan dotes on family of otters after their river was run through ape enclosure at Belgium zoo
AN orangutan says hello to his new little friends — a family of otters.
The three orangutans at Pairi Daiza zoo, Belgium, developed a “special bond” with the otters after their river was run through the ape enclosure.
The zoo said it enriched both species’ environments.
And as these extraordinary pictures show the orangutan family are besotted with their unusual pals.
Mum Sari and baby Berani can often be found playing a game of hide and seek with the otters.
While dad, Ujian, loves to grab the attention of the cute crowd and entertain them as a large group.
A spokesman at the zoo said: “Two factors are very important for the well being of an animal in captivity: the size of his enclosure, but also the quality of his enclosure.
“This means that an animal – and this is even more the case of orangutans, with whom humans share 97 per cent of their DNA – must be entertained, occupied, challenged and kept busy mentally, emotionally and physically at all times.
“We have a very strong ‘enrichment’ program.
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The spokesman added: "Our keepers entertain them all day long with mind games, riddles, puzzles, and other stuff to train their intelligence.
“The otters really enjoy getting out of the water on the orangutan island to go and play with their big, furry friends.
“In particular baby Berani and daddy Ujian have developed a very special bond with their neighbours.
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