Proud granny orangutan spotted playing with and cuddling her grandchild

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

Adorable photographs show a proud granny orangutan cuddling and playing with her daughter's newborn after it was successfully bred at a UK zoo.

The critically-endangered Bornean orangutan is the second to arrive at Dudley Zoo and Castle within the space of four weeks.

Eleven-year-old Sprout gave birth over the weekend but keepers say she was finding first-time motherhood "a little bit tough."

Luckily, Sprout's mom Jazz, 30, who only gave birth herself a month ago, has been on hand to act as grandmother and came to her daughter's aid.

Photographs shows Jazz stepping in to take over the care of her first grandbaby - who staff at the West Midlands attraction are yet to confirm the sex of.

Jazz can seen nursing Sprout's newborn alongside her own offspring, Jim, and keepers will continue to closely monitor both moms and babies.

Dad to both baby apes is 33-year-old Djimat, who arrived at the zoo nine months ago from Denmark.

Both births come as a result of a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) and brings the zoo’s Bornean orangutan number to six.

Orangutan populations have halved over the past century as their natural habitats have been cleared to make way for palm oil plantations.

The World Wildlife Fund considers them critically endangered, one notch above extinction, making them one of the most threatened animal species in the world.