( CNN ) -- A baby ape born in the UK is settling into a new life in a German zoo after flying from Birmingham to Frankfurt -- monkey business class . Bili the bonobo is to be fostered by an ape at Frankfurt Zoo . The three-month old male bonobo -- who is to be fostered by a family of German apes after being rejected by his natural mother -- was considered too young and too fragile to travel cargo class , a spokeswoman for the UK 's Twycross Zoo told CNN . Instead , the tiny ape named Bili checked in for the Lufthansa flight with special travel documents -- including a fake passport in the name of `` Bili the Bonobo '' -- before taking a seat in the cabin alongside a handler from Frankfurt Zoo , who had flown over to accompany him on his unusual journey . `` He was with his keeper all the way to make him feel more comfortable and relaxed , rather than being in a crate , '' said spokeswoman Kim Riley . `` I just wish I 'd been there to see the other passengers ' faces . '' Bonobos , which originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo , are considered particularly intelligent primates . They are the human species ' closest relation in the animal world , sharing 99.6 percent of our DNA . Bili was rejected by his mother after falling ill shortly after his birth and has required extensive nursing and medical care . Zookeepers in Frankfurt hope he can bond with an adult female bonobo which has been trained to assist with hand rearing babies . The zoo 's bonobo community will also play and interact with Bili , helping him to acquire social skills . Bili will spend 30 days in quarantine at the zoo before being introduced to his new family , Riley said .
Baby bonobo ape takes flight from UK to Germany to start new life in Frankfurt . Three - month - old was rejected by natural mother after falling ill following birth . Frankfurt Zoo has an adult female bonobo trained to help with rearing babies . She will spend several days in quarantine before meeting new family .