Orangutans in US zoo order lunch using iPads

Orangutans at Miami Zoo have started using Apple iPads to order what they would like to eat for lunch.

Keepers at Jungle Island started using iPads (in suitably durable cases) to communicate with the apes - which while intelligent lack the vocal chords and voiceboxes to talk.

But they soon realised the animals were able to do more than randomly poke at apps and started using the touch-screen as an interactive lunch menu.

Now the orangutans sometimes get to touch images of food options to select what they'd like to be served.

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