Person of the Forest

In the vanishing lowland rainforests of Borneo, new research is underway to uncover and understand the unique cultural behaviors in wild orangutans, before it’s too late. There, photographer Tim Laman, researcher Cheryll Knott and young explorer Robert Suro have documented orangutans making pillows, fashioning umbrellas and displaying regional greetings. The project, 20 years in the making, offers a fascinating glimpse into the habits of wild orangutans, as well as a window into human evolution. With their habitat disappearing at an alarming rate, this research may prove to be key in protecting this critically endangered species.

DIRECTED BY
Tim Laman and Melissa Lesh

PRODUCED BY
Melissa Lesh, Trevor Frost and Tim Laman

EDITED BY
Melissa Lesh

PRINCIPAL CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Tim Laman, Trevor Frost, Robert Rodriguez Suro

FEATURING
Cheryl Knott, Tim Laman, Robert Rodriguez Suro, Richard Wrangham, Endro Setiawan

ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Russell Laman, Tri Wahyu Susanto

DRONE PILOTING BY
Russell Laman

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Gunung Palung National Park Director Dadang Wardhana and Endro Setiawan

The Gunung Palung Orangutan Project: Cheryl Knott, Tri Wahyu Susanto and Team
Tuanan Orangutan Project Team

Tuanan Orangutan Research Project

MAWAS Conservation Program

Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program

Rebecca Martin

All participating orangutans

MADE POSSIBLE BY
Grants from the National Geographic Society

Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program
Yayasan Palung

Emerging Earth Films

To learn more visit: savegporangutans.org/
Find the team on instagram:
@melissalesh
@timlaman
@tbfrost
@rrsuro
@cheryl_d_knott

Cast: Melissa Lesh, Tim Laman, Trevor Frost and Robert Rodriguez Suro

Tags: orangutan, conservation, borneo, wildlife, research, animal culture, culture, great ape, red ape, tool use, gunung palung national park and saveGPorangutans