Orangutans, the largest arboreal mammals on the planet, are much more than just a symbol of tropical forests.

These great apes—sharing 97% of their DNA with humans—are essential to the survival of the rainforests they inhabit. As “gardeners of the forest,” they disperse the seeds of more than 500 plant species, playing a vital role in maintaining the health and diversity of their ecosystems.

But their future is under severe threat.
Over the past 60 years, orangutan populations have plummeted by more than 50% due to massive deforestation, illegal trafficking, forest fires, and habitat fragmentation. Today, fewer than 104,700 Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) remain in the wild, most of them in fragmented pockets across the Indonesian province of Kalimantan and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.

Borneo, their last stronghold, is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth. Its tropical rainforests are home not only to orangutans, but also to pygmy elephants, sun bears, clouded leopards, and over 15,000 plant species. Yet these forests are rapidly vanishing—cleared for palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and mining operations.

@camilodiazphotography ventured deep into the rainforests of Borneo, the only home for these gentle giants, to document their lives and their ecological importance. The images captured reflect not only their intelligence and emotional depth, but also the fragility of their world.

Seeing an orangutan in the wild is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.
Without them, the balance of these ecosystems collapses.
Their disappearance wouldn’t just mark the loss of a species—it would endanger the very forests that regulate our climate, store carbon, and support life on a global scale.

Protecting orangutans is not just a local priority—it’s a global responsibility.