Asia & the Pacific



A baby orangutan left to die in a filthy cardboard box in the sun in Borneo is showing further strong signs of recovery less than two months after being saved by a British charity.

A baby orangutan that the British animal charity International Animal Rescue, helped to save after he was found dumped in a filthy cardboard box and left out in the sun to die in Borneo. The ape, who has been named Gito, is now receiving expert treatment and care at the charity's centre in Ketapang. Image by: International Animal Rescue/PA

A baby orangutan that the British animal charity International Animal Rescue, helped to save after he was found dumped in a filthy cardboard box and left out in the sun to die in Borneo. The ape, who has been named Gito, is now receiving expert treatment and care at the charity’s centre in Ketapang. Image by: International Animal Rescue/PA

Rescuers said the baby ape’s appearance is now “beyond recognition” after he was found so lifeless that at first they thought he was dead.

The baby, who officials named Gito, was found in the village of Hamlet Giet in Simpang Hulu district, 105 miles from the orangutan rehabilitation base in West Borneo. Now, less than two months later, the East Sussex-based International Animal Rescue clinic said Gito is looking “healthy, happy and alert” – and is even sporting two front teeth.

(Press Association)