One of the main reasons I had wanted to visit Borneo was to see orangutans in the wild. I’d always been captivated by their intelligence, playfulness and humanity. Despite having had an incredible time in Borneo’s Danum Valley, over the five days I did not see a single wild orangutan. This beautiful creature was photographed at Matang Wildlife Centre in Kubah National Park – a short drive from the riverside city of Kuching.

Reflecting on the time spent in Borneo’s Danum Valley, it’s definitely bittersweet. While I felt privileged to be able to experience one of the world’s most pristine rainforest environments, and grateful that this region had been protected so well, it was clear that this oasis was just a tiny fraction of what used to be.

As someone who finds joy in staring out a plane window, the hour-long flight from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu began perfectly, with a spectacular sunrise over Mount Kinabalu. That’s why the remaining 45 minutes were so heartbreaking, staring at what appeared to be never-ending fields of palm oil plantations, stretching to the horizon in every direction until we landed.

It’s heartbreaking to see such remarkable natural environments being steadily stripped away, while Borneo’s orangutans are taken with them.

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Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Matang Wildlife Centre, Borneo