Adorable footage shows a newborn baby orangutan clinging to its mum as zoo keepers celebrated the birth of one of the world's most endangered primates.

The critically endangered Sumatran orangutan arrived at Chester Zoo on June 19 to parents Emma and Puluh, both 34, following an eight and a half month pregnancy.

Experts at the zoo say they are yet to determine the sex of the tiny newcomer, which has been clinging tightly to mum since entering the world.

The baby is first of its kind to be born at the zoo since its group of orangutans moved back to their "Monsoon Forest" home - following a tragic fire in December 2019.

The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild and conservationists around the world hope the birth offers fresh hope of saving the great apes.

Sumatran orangutans are native to South East Asia, where fewer than 14,000 of the great apes remain in the wild.

They are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Claire Parry, one of the zoo’s specialist Primate Keepers, said: “Sumatran orangutans are one of the world’s most threatened large mammals and so the safe arrival of a new baby is an incredibly special moment.

"Emma is an experienced mum and already she’s formed a really close bond with the little one – it’s wonderful to see her cradling it so gently.

“The youngster is a vital boost to the international conservation breeding programme, which is working to ensure a safety-net population for these critically endangered animals within the world’s most progressive zoos.

"Crucially, we also hope the baby will help us to raise more awareness about the destruction of rainforests in South East Asia that is driving this magnificent species, and many others, towards extinction.”

Chester Zoo is currently the only zoo in mainland Britain which cares for Sumatran orangutans

The footage was filmed between June 19 and July 7.