HONG KONG - A pigeon pair of Bornean orangutan twins were born in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (HKZBG) last Friday, with the male baby weighing about 2 kg while the female about 1.4 kg.

This is the first-ever successful breeding of Bornean orangutan twins in the HKZBG, bringing to five the total number of this primate in the gardens.

Born in the morning of last Friday, the twins are the two little darlings of Vandu and Raba, the adorable and popular stars of the gardens. They are both in good health and are being well taken care of by the veterinarian and staff of the HKZBG.

The baby twins have yet to be named. They are still adapting to their new life in the gardens before they will meet with visitors.

The twins' father, the 16-year-old Vandu, was transferred from a zoo in Hungary to Hong Kong in January last year through a conservation breeding program. Mother Raba, now 15 years of age, was born in the HKZBG in 1996.

The Bornean orangutan is an endangered primate. With its huge body and lovely appearance, it has always been the most popular animal in the HKZBG.

Since the 1970s, the HKZBG has placed much emphasis on the breeding and conservation of animals and has been sharing the responsibility to conserve rare and endangered animal species.