This orphaned monkey has found a surrogate mum with a big heart...

OK, a big plastic heart!

The little debrazza monkey is being hand-raised at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park.

But when Jonathan Cage, manager of the Build A Bear Workshop in Canterbury found out he rushed to find a pal - complete with beating heart.

He selected a brown cuddly monkey with a replica heartbeat that triggers when the baby squeezes it.

Jonathan said: "We were delighted to do something to help and hope that the cuddly monkey will comfort her whilst she is not able to feel the warmth of her mum.”

Head of Primate Section, Simon Jeffery, had to take a quick decision to hand-rear the baby after mum, 19-year-old Bamboo, gave birth by caesarean section.

A difficult and exhausting labour resulted in her being unable to show the usual maternal instincts.

Having hand-reared the baby’s brother, Hoggle, four years ago, as well as Keymon, a baby Diana monkey last year, the keepers were aware of the advantage of providing the baby with a toy to cuddle up to.

The baby debrazza is being cared for by keepers under the watchful eye of Simon Jeffery. During the day, she spends time in an area close to the other monkeys so that she will recognise normal monkey habits and behaviour, their noises and movements.