SPOT THE ORANGUTANS ON THE EDGE OF DEFORESTATION
WITH PIX AND VID
By Shuk Yee Tsang
Drone footage captures a mother orangutan and her young child feeding in a palm oil plantation, a stark illustration of rainforest loss.
The footage was shot by Felix Terwindt, an entrepreneur and PE teacher from Luxembourg, while touring the Kinnabatangan River in Sabah, Borneo with Jasper Wilkins, filmed on behalf of Native Squared.
Jasper Wilkins, 32, a digital nomad and conservation activist from Birmingham, UK, spoke on behalf of Native Squared, the organisation that helps people and companies protect and restore rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs worldwide, while sharing the footage.
During the tour, Jasper explained, the pair spotted the orangutans feeding in the plantation a jarring contrast to the lush rainforest that should be their natural home.
He explained the importance of filming that moment, it may be a rare sight, but it underscores the urgent need for conservation action.
Mr Wilkins said: “It was shocking to see the orangutans eating from the plantation.
"We are passionate about preserving nature, so had to film this because it may be rare to see.
"While on a boat tour we found a mother orangutan and her child eating palm oil, something that shocked us.
“Orangutans should be roaming dense rainforest, not scavenging in monocultures.
" In recent decades, Borneo has lost between 30% and 50% of its rainforest to palm oil, and alarmingly, many everyday products contain this ingredient.
“Deforestation is impacting both wildlife and indigenous communities.
"We hope that it inspires people to take action and realise that we can make an impact.”
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