Welcome to the world (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Welcome to the world

STAFF at Cotswold Wildlife Park are all smiles after a surprise arrival.

The female of the park's Siamang Gibbon family, Spindle, gave birth without the staff at the park realising she was pregnant.

It is her third baby since she arrived at the park in December 2000. It has been named Sebanga and will soon become a playmate for siblings Maluku and Binjai.

It is not known yet whether the newborn ape is male or female.

Keepers say Sebanga is still very small and spends most of the time clinging to its mother.

Park curator, David Edgington, said: "We now have a lovely family group of this fascinating ape species, and they are such a lovely sight for out visitors this summer.

"Sebanga occasionally takes shaky steps but always stays within arms length of mum."

The Siamang is the largest member of the gibbon family. Both sexes are large, black and stocky and reach a maximum height of one metre.