Orangutans on iPads

Orangutans in the US have been given iPads to communicate with their keepers.

Workers at Jungle Island Zoo in Miami, Florida, are hoping the beasts will eventually be able to use the gadgets to indicate their preferred dinner choices, such as choosing whether they would like to eat carrots or beets for their meals, as well as visit social networking sites and tempt people to the zoo.

Zookeeper Linda Jacobs explained: "They have all the intelligence they need to communicate with us.

"But what they don't have is developed vocal chords and voiceboxes. This gives them a voice.

"Some of them like carrots more than they like beets. And don't we all want to have that choice?

"I don't want to eat the same thing every day that someone else picks for me. I want them to have a choice over their lunches."