I wrote this while working as a Naturalist and Undersea Specialist for National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions.
This is an amazing gig, where I get to connect people with their natural world with video I shoot of the amazing critters that live underwater in the locations we visit. One of the main perks of the job is I get to go to the intimate talks and presentations held by world leaders in their respective fields including National Geographic photographers all on the beautiful ship, the National Geographic Orion. I also get to go along on the land based expeditionary trips, so I’m not always underwater! Getting to visit Tanjung Putting National Park in remote Borneo to see wild Orangutans was one of those special expeditionary trips!
I was able to use some of the skills I learnt from one of the Photography Experts and Naturalists David Cothran to get this amazing shot of Atlas, a young male orangutan who had been released into the wild from Camp Leakey! He was the last animal we saw all day and came to say good bye to us just before our 5 hour scenic journey through the narrows rivers to join the ship.
It was very special to see these animals and to be able to photograph them, although it’s sad to think that they are on the brink of extinction due to loss of habitat caused by palm oil production!
I know for a fact a lot of people fell in love with these animals this day and will be working towards keeping their species alive!
