The Baby and the Orangutan

A toddler kindled a touching friendship with the one-year-old orangutan at a sanctuary in Miami

Emily Bland was visiting The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) in Miami, when she met one-year-old organgutan Rishi. The pair formed an immediate bond, playing, laughing and even enjoying a mid-afternoon tea party.

Older male orangutans refuse to accept new males into the family, so Rishi had to leave the Jungle Island animal park where he was born.

"I had come along to the institute to photograph Rishi who had recently been adopted into a new family and I thought it would be a good to bring Emily along," revealed 38-year-old photographer Barry Bland.

"Almost as soon as we arrived, Rishi had an instant chemistry with Emily.

"They looked completely content with each other and they sat and played with each other for a few hours.

"It was quite incredible to see such interaction and as you can see they make for the cutest pictures."

However, the unusually intimate interaction was of no surprise to T.I.G.E.R.S founder Dr Bhagavan Antle.

"I am not surprised by Rishi and Emily's friendship," reveals Dr Antle.

"Orangutans are intelligent and certainly the most friendly apes on the planet.

"The youngsters enjoy their playtime and are always looking for an opportunity 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."

Orangutans are one of the most endangered species on earth.

Recent expansion of palm oil plantations and over logging of their forests in Borneo and Sumatra have created a rapidly declining habitat for the great apes.

Working in conjunction with Jungle Island, The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species is a wildlife education organisation dedicated to promoting global conservation with informative, educational and entertaining interactive programs.

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.

JOKE: A guy walks into a doctor's office...

A guy walks into a doctor's office and stutters, "Da-da-doc, I've ba-ba-been sta-sta-stuttering for ye-ye-years, and I ca-ca-can't stand it anymo-mo-more! Can you he-he-help me?"

The doctor answers "Well, I'll have to give you a thorough examination first, but in some cases there is a cure." So the doctor puts the guy through a battery of tests, and says, "I think I know what's causing your stuttering."

The guy excitedly asks, "Well, wa-wa-what is it, da- da-doctor?"

"It's your penis. I know that sounds crazy, but you have an unusually large penis - it's almost two feet long. It seems the weight is putting a strain on your vocal cords which most men never have to deal with."

The guy asks, "Wa-wa-what can we da-da-do?"

"Well, we could remove it and transplant a shorter one."

"Do it!" the guy replies. So they go through the operation, and three weeks later the guy comes in for a follow up appointment.

He says, "Doc, you solved my stuttering problem. I don't know how to thank you. But I've only had sex once in three weeks - my wife just doesn't like it anymore with my new, shorter penis. I've thought about it, and I decided I can put up with the stuttering easier than going without the sex - I want you to put my long one back on."

The doctor says, "No-no-nope. A da-da-deal's a da-da- deal!"