Baby orangutan left in box to die

A healthy baby orangutan. Photo / iStock

Warning: Images in this article may disturb.

Discovered in a cardboard box after being left in the sun to die, a baby orangutan is fighting for his life following rescue by an international non-profit organisation.

International Animal Resue posted images to Facebook of the baby ape, named Gito, found in Borneo, Indonesia, with his arms "folded corpse-like across his tiny body... he looked almost mummified in his cardboard coffin".

Gito is suffering from a highly contagious skin infection. Photo / Facebook

The rescue team reported on their website that Gito's condition is one of the worst cases of neglect they have ever seen.

"Gito had barely any hair on his body and his skin was grey and flaking from sarcoptic mange."

Gito was too weak to sit up by himself. Photo / Facebook

He was rushed to the organisation's rescue centre for treatment, medicated for dehydration, malnutrition, and quarantined for a severe, highly contagious skin infection.

While it is unclear how Gito wound up in this state, the medical team say they are hopeful he will recover.

The organisation shared a video of Gito and have asked for donations to help continue his treatment.

- nzherald.co.nz