Orangutans in Borneo | David Yarrow Photography

On assignment in Borneo photographing Orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park.
Revisit David's 2018 journey through Borneo. Watch as he locates and photographs Orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park, documenting the habitat loss and the plight that Orangutans face daily due to deforestation.
Orangutans are not hard to find in Tanjung Puting National Park. Fly from Jakarta to Pangkalanbun and then charter a rickety house boat that crawls up the river towards Camp Leaky.
The Orangutans are essentially wild, but there are feeding platforms that, at the same time daily, are covered with freshly picked bananas. Human interaction is part of their daily routine - much like the gorillas in Rwanda. The presence of the Orangutan is almost guaranteed and with it the presence of many visitors - some of whom seemingly carry every single piece of camera equipment ever invented. It costs $1500 a day to see the gorillas in Rwanda, but it costs nothing to see the Orangutans in Borneo. As a result, this is the preferred primate adventure for many.
But for us this can be a miserable experience and totally at odds with what we are trying to do. The term “original content” is a misnomer here. If there are 15 other photographers firing away from the same viewing stand. It is entirely possible to turn up in the jungle at feeding time and feel a complete fraud. I knew that we had access to somewhere extremely remote and entirely different than the boat park where our river boat was moored to succeed in garnering original content.
After a restless night, we left in two tiny motor boats at 4 am. Sometime later we were in the open Java Sea heading far from the madding crowd. By 7 am we landed at a remote Orangutan research base and our guides received instructions for the next leg of our adventure.
As we travelled deeper into the jungle and the river narrowed to little more than twice the width of our tiny boats, I felt an inner peace from the knowledge that we were doing exactly what we should be doing. I said to my team that even if we did not see an Orangutan, the scenery was quite breathtaking and our drones would capture the essence of the road less travelled. This is what DYP is all about, not sitting in a jungle grandstand with 30 other photographers. Even if there were no Orangutans - we should come every day until there were. After all it was only an 8-hour round trip.
The final stretch of the journey brought a harrowing first hand exposure to the destruction of rainforest at the hands of the palm oil industry. Mile after mile of dead or charred trees hugged the water’s edge - it was visually unique scenery for me - the greens of plants and blacks of destruction mirrored with crystal clear reflection on glass like water.
When we arrived at the location, we encountered a mother and her baby, whilst they seemed relax in our presence I still needed to make myself look small and unthreatening. The trick was to be in the water, but I needed some protection because on the way upriver I had noticed several crocodiles, and I am terrified of crocs. They could have been anywhere, skulking in the water reeds, but after some manoeuvring, my team’s two motorboats formed a V-shape and blocked off the water behind and to the left and right of me. It was only later that my lead guide told me, with a mischievous grin, that there had been a recent crocodile attack nearby. He didn’t tell me beforehand because he worried I wouldn’t get the shot.
However, I was still bereft of my principal goal - a large male Orangutan. Fortunately, my local friends knew the calling noises, and sure enough within an hour an enormous male came into view-but no more than just into view. He was clearly scared of humans.
The thing is, Orangutans are so smart. Let me repeat: so smart. It’s humbling, because we humans clearly aren’t that intelligent. We got back into our tiny boat defeated, but everything changed in one minute. The Orangutan felt emboldened by our evacuation and approached us. We cut our engines, and I had my moment. The backdrop of dead or burnt trees was a poignant canvas on which to paint a picture that speaks a thousand words.
Directed by Fuego Films.
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[@jessesands4099]

The Beautiful Orangutans Of Borneo Indonesia!🦧🌴🌿🇲🇨

[@EttaJames-db5sc]

1 minute of Orangutangs, and the rest is just David rambling on

[@randallvargas5315]

Thank you for sharing these videos Mr. Yarrow! It is a great opportunity to see you working and how you produce your amazing photographs!

[@dylancarvalho1260]

So true, I couldn't agree more! Absolutely stunning work! Thanks for sharing David :)

[@guide_Vipuljain_ranthambhore]

Yes he did very hard I am his guide in Ranthambhore tiger reserve

[@dylancarvalho1260]

@@guide_Vipuljain_ranthambhore That's amazing! I'm about to become a guide myself in Africa! When the time is right and I will travel to Asia, I will definitely consider You as a Guide!

[@brendajoycewhite5747]

The Indians are attacking music, very distracting.

[@earlxx]

What a great BTS video. Makes your photo so much more relatable. Wished I can join your tour again.

[@mukulmukherjee1981]

Love watching your videos again and again. I dont even remember how many times I have watched your video but thought to write a comment from today.

[@kenmillerdellosa7160]

Wow magnificient full of story every shot composition. Awesome!

[@shannonreneenorton]

Beautiful videos, you now have a new and faithful follower! Thank you for your work!

[@ChristianSeitz]

Just amazing!

[@dudefromsa]

Amazing work David

[@guide_Vipuljain_ranthambhore]

Great & Best photography.

[@guide_Vipuljain_ranthambhore]

Nice to see Mr. CAMRON Also doing photography

[@SebastianBevanPhotography]

Awesome stuff

[@yulnacahyani4075]

👍👍 Good job Amazing experience😙😙😙

[@darryndeshong4435]

Best in the business

[@brendajoycewhite5747]

I like natural sounds, not this crazy music, and this sounds like American Indians from an old cow boy. But I do like your videos, now sounds like an African songs. Give us real.

[@tuantanah9076]

I agree.

[@muhammadadityafirdaus3250]

I like indonesia

[@nedstudios6490]

David, be honest. You're secretively hoping you get a covid lock down whilst in Borneo. OHH darn it! cant go back to the uk