Rare gibbon born at rescue centre

The new golden-cheeked gibbon has yet to be named

An animal rescue centre in Dorset has been celebrating the birth of a rare golden-cheeked gibbon.

The infant is being fed and nurtured by its mother Zoey after being born at Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Wool.

It is the third ever born at the centre after its mother Zoey was rescued from the illegal pet trade in Taiwan.

The baby's father, Jake, was brought to Monkey World from Los Angeles Zoo as part of the European Breeding Programme to save the species from extinction.

Monkey World is home to the largest number of golden-cheeked gibbons outside of Asia.

The as-yet unnamed baby was born on 31 March and is the second golden-cheeked gibbon born at the park as part of the breeding programme, which includes woolly monkeys and orang-utans.

Monkey World started building a rescue centre for the golden-cheeked gibbon in Vietnam at the end of last year.

The new rescue centre in Cat Tien National Park will be able to receive confiscated primates by the summer.