Newborn orangutan makes public debut

Melbourne Zoo's baby Sumatran orangutan has made her first public appearance with mum Miamunah.

The one-month-old named Dewi clung to her protective mother as they ventured outside for the first time.

Dewi spent most of the time sleeping as Miamunah wandered around their outdoor enclosure.

She will soon join her father Santan and seven-year-old brother Menyaru as a family.

Dewi is the second baby orangutan to be born at Melbourne Zoo and will be on display for the public sporadically as she grows over the coming months.

Environmental groups say up to 80 per cent of the orangutan's natural habitat is already gone.

According to the Nature Conservancy, a coalition of non-governmental groups, rapid deforestation has directly and indirectly led to around 3,000 orangutans deaths annually since 1970.