Rewards totalling RM60,000 have been offered for information leading to the capture of those who killed three orang-utans in Malaysia, a report said today.

The orang-utans named Mambo, Terry and Marrie were found dead with stab wounds at the ShangriLa Rasa Ria resort's nature park in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state on Borneo island on August 18, the Sunday Star reported.

Another two orang-utans which were injured in the attack were being treated at the Sepilok orang-utan rehabilitation centre in Sandakan.

All five primates had been captured in Sabah's east coast where their forest habitat has been gradually shrinking, making way for plantations, the Star said.

Much loved animals

Resort general manager Reto Klauser said RM50,000 would be paid for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those behind the killings of the three orang-utans.

Management and staff were shocked at the brutal killings of the orang-utans which were "a very much loved part of the resort's community," he said.

The Malaysian owner of the Royal London Circus offered RM10,000 for similar information.

"I can only hope this reward will hasten the capture of those who committed this senseless act," he said. - AFP