TV presenter Donna Air and her zoo-owner boyfriend Damian Aspinall are planning to put their baby daughter in the hands of a 200lb gorilla.

The couple are to place baby Freya in the gorilla enclosure at Howletts Zoo and let her be carried off by the female of the group.

They have no qualms about the "ritual" despite five keepers being killed by animals since 1980 at Howletts and its sister wildlife park, Port Lympne.

Describing his plans for Freya, Aspinall told London's Evening Standard: "It's a ritual. I'll probably give her to the dominant female who will take her off, sex her, and introduce her to the others.

Give the baby to gorillas

"I did this with my other daughters, now it's Freya's turn."

Air fully approves of the plan and neither believe Freya will be in any danger.

"Why would I not trust them? I know them, I grew up with them. They are my friends," Aspinall said.

The multi-millionaire property developer took over running of the zoo near Canterbury, Kent, after the death of his father, John, who encouraged close contact between the animals and their keepers.

I trust the gorillas

Three keepers have been mauled to death by tigers and two crushed to death by elephants at Howletts and Port Lympne, also in Kent, since 1980.

However, gorillas are known for their gentle treatment of babies and young children and

Aspinall has introduced them to his other daughters - Clary, 11, and Tansy, 14.

Zoo keepers mauled to death by animals

He also spent time with them as a young boy and said: "When the gorillas haven't seen me for a while, they race to the edge of their pen so I can stroke them.

"I remember doing it as a child. It was so comforting and amazing."

Aspinall, 42, has found love with Air, 24, former star of kids' TV show Byker Grove.

The couple recently made a documentary together about releasing gorillas into the wild in Africa.