Some girls are concerned that they wouldn't be any good at online dating, perhaps because they're worried they wouldn't have enough to say.

Well if apes can do it, then girls certainly can. And apes really can get to grips with online dating, as conservationists at the National Zoo in Washington have proven!

Dr Rob Shumaker started trying out online dating for orang-utans a few years ago to help the animals communicate with each other from their individual cages.

Initially, he used mirrors to enable them to sign to each other, as the apes have a silent, visually-based language. Soon, however, he decided to provide the orang-utans with webcams and computer screens so that they could communicate at distance, Channel 4 reports.

In the same way that humans can meet and get to know each other in cyberspace, Dr Shumaker hopes that orang-utans in Holland will be able to communicate via the internet with other apes in Borneo by the start of 2007, setting off a whole new trend in online dating!

Apes are clearly catching on to the online dating trend ? why not search for a slightly less hairy mate?! Complete this form to search for your perfect guy or girl!

? Adfero Ltd