Anil Prabhakar is a nature photographer from Indonesia who captured a beautiful act of kindness after entering the forest.
It was a wild orangutan who offered someone for help after they got stuck in the mud.
He has always believed that his work can create social and emotional change.
“My way of thinking is that each photo speaks for itself,” Prabhakar said, “I try to portray an emotion that I can connect with more.”
He joined the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, and in 2019 he visited the organization to learn more about the program.
“This organization rescues orangutans from habitat loss, po.ac.hers and captives. They will rescue them and help them return to the wild.”
“They heal them if they are i.nju.red and help with the trauma they have faced. Then they move to a temporary forest where they can get used to the wild and release them back to the main forest.”
While touring the organization’s protected grounds, he saw a crew member enter a small river while approaching orangutan habitat.
Confused, he asked why the man was doing this, they said a snake was discovered there.
“Poisonous snakes are very dangerous to orangutans, so they have to take care of those things. So this fellow started clearing these bushes along the river, and as if he was slowing down because his leg was stuck in the mud.”
“Suddenly, this orangutan came closer to the riverbank, sat there and watched what this orangutan was doing.”
“When this fellow tried to pull out his leg, the orangutan put her left hand on the river bank and extended her other hand towards him. It was a lovely gesture.”
The orangutan ignored the outstretched hand for three minutes, trying to help the man, moving away instead.
“For me, this is completely new; I never expected to see anything like that. In my mind, this orangutan was trying to help him. It’s human nature – if someone’s in trouble, you go there and lend a hand.”
Prabhakar asked the man why he didn’t accept the orangutan’s help. He explained that he was only there as a lifeguard and was not allowed to engage with wild animals.
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