A rare Bornean orangutan has just been born at Chester Zoo, and it’s a seriously important moment for the critically-endangered species.
Primate conservationists at the UK’s biggest charity zoo are celebrating the “precious” new arrival – who was born to doting parents, Sarikei and Willie, last week – and have also shared the first images and videos of the adorable new baby.
The birth is a “positive step in the right direction” for the protection of the highly-threatened species.
The world’s authority on the state of nature, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), sadly lists Bornean orangutans as critically-endangered in the wild, and ranks them as one of the species which requires the highest conservation priority in the world.
This is because rampant habitat destruction has seen the lush rainforests of Borneo cleared for agriculture, logging, and unsustainable oil palm plantations, and the massive loss of this habitat, coupled with illegal hunting, and conflict with farmers when orangutans enter areas where their forest homes once stood, means the animals have been to the very edge of existence.
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But luckily, Chester Zoo‘s newborn orangutan will join a European-wide conservation breeding programme.
The aim of the programme is the boost the population of the rare primate in conservation zoos.
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A critically-endangered Bornean orangutan has been born at Chester Zoo / Credit: Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo has been working with its conservation partners, HUTAN, in protecting wild orangutans in Borneo for more than 20 years now.
On top of this, experts have been carrying out research in the Kinabatangan – which is home to one of the largest populations of orangutans in the Sabah region of the island – to gain a better understanding of how orangutans are adapting to an increase in oil palm plantations, and the new landscapes which they have created.
A team of zoo primatologists has also helped to create special ‘orangutan bridges’ on the island – which are designed to “connect pockets of fragmented forest”, and aid orangutans in “moving safely between different areas”, the Zoo says.
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Conservationists have called the birth a “positive step in the right direction” / Credit: Chester Zoo
“The birth of an animal that’s so rare is always something to celebrate,” admits Mark Brayshaw, who is the Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo.
“Seeing the new baby in the arms of mum Sarikei is incredibly special, because she’s a great mum and has spent the first few days cradling her baby closely, feeding it regularly, and building close bonds, [which are] all the signs are great so far.
“With the newborn just a few days old, we’ve not yet managed to clearly identify if it’s male or female [but] what’s most important is that there’s another healthy Bornean orangutan on the planet.
“To have a new addition within the international conservation breeding programme that’s working to safeguard the species’ future is a hugely positive step in the right direction.”
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Emily Sergeant -
8th September 2023 
