In the vanishing lowland rainforests of Borneo, new research is underway to uncover and understand the unique cultural behaviors in wild orangutans. Photographer Tim Laman, researcher Cheryl Knott, and National Geographic Young Explorer Robert Suro have documented rarely-seen behaviors such as making pillows, fashioning umbrellas, and displaying regional greetings. In
Person of the Forest, go deep into the forest for a rare look at the secretive world of these great apes. With habitats disappearing at an alarming rate, the team hopes their research will help to protect this critically endangered species before it’s too late.
Visit
SaveGpOrangutans.org for more on the Gunung Palung Orangutan Project and follow filmmakers
Tim Laman,
Melissa Lesh, and
Trevor Beck Frost. Research grants made possible by the
National Geographic Society.
Go behind-the-scenes with Tim Laman and Cheryl Knot in "
Inside the Private Lives of Orangutans" and read their interview in "
Orangutans Are More Like Us Than You Think." For more of the action, make sure to catch "
Mission Critical: Orangutans on the Edge" on Nat Geo WILD.
The
Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the world and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
