This year I had the chance to explore some of Malaysia's incredible natural wonders and one of the highlights was going to an orangutan rescue and rehabilitation center on Borneo. 

Orangutans, which literally translates to ‘Man of the Forest’, have more in common with us than you might think. In fact, these great apes share almost 97% of our genetic make-up.  

I was so lucky to catch this young orangutan's piercing and rather sad glance while he was carrying some bananas.

Orangutans are now classified as critically endangered, this means that our ginger cousins now face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. 

Why? 

Two words: habitat loss. It’s shocking to think that in the last 30 years, orangutans have lost around 80% of their habitat (orangutan.com). 80%! Oh yes, deforestation has a heck of a lot to answer for, with much of the rainforest disappearing to make way for oil palm and other agricultural plantations. 

Just look at this photo I took from the airplane window and you can see the palm oil plantations replacing the rainforest on the left. Shocking! It's so hidden from people's eyes.

How can you help?

•  Avoid products that contain unsustainable palm oil! Palm oil is an ingredient that is, often unnecessarily, used in loads of household stuff. Avoiding products that contain it is more important than ever when it comes to protecting the rainforest and its inhabitants. If you need more info, here’s a handy guide to going Palm Oil free. 
• Buy FSC-certified products!  Another way you can keep an eye on the products you buy is by looking for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – certified label on wood and paper products.

• Support a charitable organisation! Go and adopt your orangutan! There are plenty of amazing conservation organisations out there, whether it’s WWF, Orangutan Foundation or Sumatran Orangutan Society. 
• Join a volunteer programme!  If all the above just isn’t enough, and you fancy getting your hands dirty, there a plenty of amazing volunteer opportunities across Borneo and Sumatra- just make sure you do your research and opt for one that puts conservation before profit!
• Tell your mates! It might sound trivial, but sharing those articles on Facebook, telling your friends and family about the threats faced by orangutans, and sharing these simple actions can make a real impact. 

Photos from the Bornean rainforest, one of the oldest in the world, an important refuge for so many endemic forest species

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I am a passionate traveler and photographer and I plan to post more stories, tips & tricks, fascinating places & people, and interesting experiences from my travels.

All photos taken by me - Instagram: cris.achim