An Orangutan Helps a Man Wading Through Snake-Infested Water

Animal tales have been inducing smiles for generations. Yet, a particular interaction between a man and an animal, expertly captured by a photographer in Borneo, has taken the internet by storm, touching hearts worldwide.

Amateur photographer Anil Prabhakar became an eyewitness to and chronicler of when an endangered ape from the Indonesian island extended its hand to rescue a man from waters infested with snakes.

Prabhakar found himself on a safari with companions at a conservation forest managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS), where he witnessed this incident. He recounted, “Reports had come in about snakes in the vicinity, prompting a warden to step in for snake clearance.” He shared, “I observed an orangutan approaching him closely and offering its hand.”

In a soggy and muddy environment, Prabhakar described the scenario as if the orangutan was asking the man, “May I be of assistance?”. Overwhelmed by the experience, he admitted, “I struggled to capture the moment on camera. This was something entirely unexpected, and I seized that fleeting instant. The emotions were profound.”

The conservation forest plays a pivotal role in safeguarding these critically endangered species from poachers and the encroachment of their habitats until they can be reintegrated into the wild. The orangutans of Borneo confront hazards from venomous snakes and the looming threats of forest fires, habitat degradation, and hunting.

“Undoubtedly, snakes are their primary adversaries,” affirmed Prabhakar, a geologist from Kerala, India. After the guardian distanced himself from the orangutan and emerged from the water, Prabhakar inquired about his actions. He recounted the guardian’s response: “‘They’re completely untamed; we can’t predict their reactions.'” Reflecting on the incident, Prabhakar said, “I feel fortunate to have been present. It’s a memory that brings me immense joy.” The image has garnered 15,000 likes on Instagram thus far.

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A post shared by Anil T Prabhakar (@anil_t_prabhakar)

The orangutan stands as Asia’s sole great ape, predominantly inhabiting Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia, with the remaining 10% residing in Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, as indicated by the BOS foundation. Their reproductive cycle is notably slow, with females giving birth every six to eight years in the wild. Alarmingly, the Bornean orangutan population has dwindled by over 80% over the past three generations.

Source: faithpot