An impressive alpha male Orangutan. In Indonesian Borneo we had sailed along the Sekonyer River to visit Camp Leakey in Tanjung Putting National Park. Here we encountered this wonderful alpha male orangutan (given the name Jacob by the local guides). He was a very striking animal and a regular visitor to Camp Leakey. His facial flanges were impressive given he was around 24-25 years of age. We were fortunate to see him just once on our last day in Borneo! A memorable encounter.
Tanjung Puting National Park is a major centre for the conservation of these highly intelligent yet critically endangered great apes. Threats to their existence are many with habitat loss being a crucial factor. Seeing these truly remarkable animals in the wild was a real privilege. Let’s hope that conservation efforts mean that these magnificent great apes will be with us for generations to come.