Blondes and brunettes visiting Twycross Zoo on August 19 will be seeing red, as their ginger-haired pals will be granted free entry to the attraction.

The freebie is in honour of World Orangutan Day, and it’s hoped that publicity surrounding the event will highlight the dangers facing the red-headed apes in the wild.

Orangutans are an endangered species, with their numbers having declined by 50 per cent in the wild over the last 60 years.

There are four Bornean orangutans currently in residence at Twycross, near Tamworth.

Batu is 27, and has called the zoo home for 21 years, while Kibriah, 39, the oldest female, was born at Twycross. Her daughter Maliku, 22, is still there, along with her own five-year-old daughter, Molly.

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Cute: Two of the adorable orangutans (Twycross Zoo)

Entry to the zoo usually costs adults £18.95, while children aged 3-16 pay £13.95. You needn’t be naturally ginger to get in for free, so budget-conscious zoo-lovers may consider a cheap dye job in advance of their visit.

A spokesman for the zoo said: “On Friday, August 19 we will be letting anyone with red hair in for free – male, female, adult, child, strawberry blonde, auburn, fiery red, natural or dyed – it doesn’t matter.

“As long as you have red hair you can enjoy a free day out at Twycross Zoo! Our staff in the ticket booths will be issued with our special Twycross Zoo redheaded colour scale too just to make sure.

“Please note – if you come wearing a wig you will have to pay the entrance fee.”

Top image: REX