A baby orangutan who was locked in a wooden box in western Borneo for two years has been freed by animal rescuers.

Vets from International Animal Rescue (IAR) freed the four-year-old male named Kotap from his prison with the eventual aim of releasing him back into the wild.

Image: Vets took Kotap to the orangutan rehabilitation centre. Pic. International Animal Rescue

The little ape had been given to his captor, who had put in the box to stop him from annoying the neighbours.

IAR chief executive Alan Knight said Kotap had led "a sad and solitary existence, unable to exercise or express any of the natural behaviours of a wild orangutan".

Described as still "a little bit aggressive" with strangers, vets are still keeping "a distance between him and the people who are curious about him."


Image: Kotap will soon be able to mix with other orangutans. Pic. International Animal Rescue

But since being taken to the rehabilitation centre rescue staff say Kotap's stress levels have decreased and he should soon be able to meet other rescued orangutans.

Orangutans are one of man's closest relatives, sharing nearly 97% of the same DNA as a human being.