BANGKOK: An international animal rights group has called on Thailand to ban controversial kickboxing fights between endangered orangutans held daily at a wildlife park here. 

Orangutans taking part in a kickboxing fight at the Safari World animal park in Bangkok yesterday -- AFPpic

The orangutans, wearing boxing gloves and shorts, are put in a ring and encouraged to fight their opponents using fists, knees, elbows and feet. 

The operators of the Safari World animal park say the fights are choreographed and that no animal is harmed. 

But animal rights groups said the apes were being exploited for easy profits and they were destined for a short and miserable existence after their days in the ring were over. 

“It's outrageous. There's no question of it being justifiable in any sort of way,” said Cyril Rosen, a board member of the International Primate Protection League. 

If orangutans are deprived of their long upbringing, they lose their maternal instincts, which in turn hits their chances of breeding, he said.