Borneo – Orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park

Almost a year ago, we woke up one morning deep in Borneo’s jungle — after a complicated journey with three stops, an overnight stay, and little sleep. Now we were cruising for three days on a large wooden boat, a klotok, from Pangkalan Bun through the rainforest, captivated by the pristine vegetation and the wildlife along the riverbanks — wild and alive.

A Meeting with the Orangutans

Our destination was Tanjung Puting National Park and its rehabilitation camp, where orangutans are reintroduced to the wild. When we saw the first ones, our breath caught — they moved gracefully through the treetops, arriving at the feeding station in what seemed like a fixed order, a striking contrast of elegance and strength. We were lucky to witness several; during the rainy season, when the jungle is lush, fewer or none come to the feeding platform.

Sunrise and a Bitter Aftertaste

It was an impressive time, but not everything was a dream. On the first morning, waking up in what felt like untouched jungle, I launched the drone — the sunrise with a light mist over the treetops overwhelmed me, raw and delicate. Yet, when I turned left, an illegal palm oil plantation revealed itself! A sight we often encountered on Borneo, a stab in the heart amid this beautiful flora and fauna, powerless against loss.

A Wake-Up Call

This journey left marks — anyone who has palm oil products at home should think twice; maybe it comes from here. The aerial footage captures both beauty and pain, a dance between hope and sorrow, etched deeply in memory.