Variety

Wild 'n' wonderful:

Great friends!

How would you like to have a baby orangutan for a friend like the little girl pictured here with the cute little baby orangutan?

The toddler Emily Bland of USA and the one year old orangutan named Rishi, resident at an animal centre in Miami-The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) had become great friends from the moment they had met.

Emily's father Barry a photographer had taken the little girl along to the institute to do a photo shoot of the little orangutan who had been brought to the Institute recently.

"Almost as soon as we arrived, Rishi had an instant chemistry with Emily. They looked completely content with each other. They took to each other straight away and spent hours tumbling about and having a tea party. Emily poured while Rishi waited patiently, gripping his spoon in a hairy fist", said her father.

The pair then settled down for a quiet cuddle before it was time for Emily to leave.The friendship came as no surprise to those in charge of Rishi's home, the Institute in Miami. According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle: The youngsters enjoy their playtime and are always looking for an opportunity to experience new things and make new friends and monkey around.'Rishi, who is the youngest of the family, is always looking for someone to play with. 'That's where Emily stepped in to provide a playmate to swing in the trees, have tea with, and go for a ride.

'All infants have the capacity to get along and as youngsters the barriers between species appear to disappear.'

Working in conjunction with Jungle Island, T.I.G.E.R.S is a wildlife education organisation dedicated to promoting global conservation with informative, educational and entertaining interactive programmes.Under the supervision of their handlers, animals wander freely through the T.I.G.E.R.S institute, allowing spectators to enjoy an up close and personal experience.

Now living with his adopted family, females Hanuman, Aspara (both aged two) and four-year-old male Suryia, Rishi has found the perfect home'Rishi was brought over to T.I.G.E.R.S from Jungle Island because he was a young boy,' said Dr Antle.'He couldn't stay with his father or the other male orangutans in the habitat because they throw the boys out.'But he is now being fully accepted into his new group. He sleeps with them and he stays side by side with them.He is with them all the time.'

Rishi will now stay at the Institute where he will become part of the animal ambassadors programme, participating in education and conservation presentations at Myrtle Beach and Jungle Island institutions.Judging from these photos it looks as though Rishi has found a friend for life.

Courtesy: Dailymail