The Clash Between Civilization And The Wild

The island of Borneo, which is split between the countries of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, was once covered with a lush tropical rainforest, but in the wake of ongoing deforestation and the expansion of plantation farming, the habitats of the island’s endemic and endangered species are being destroyed rapidly. Relentless deforestation has precipitated the loss of 90% of the orangutan population in just 100 years. At this rate, some expect this species to become extinct within the next 20 years. The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is an animal protection facility for the rehabilitation of wild animals. There, young, motherless orangutan orphans received food from humans and practiced crossing ropes stretched between trees. Normally, baby orangutans learn what to eat and how to live in the treetops while clinging to their mothers. Overwhelmed by logging and plantation development, however, orphans ripped from their mothers' bodies are unable to learn anything. Moreover, many of the orphans suffered deep psychological trauma. The staff acted as parents, watching over the orphans day by day. However, there are some individuals who cannot return, and continue living in the vicinity of the center even into adulthood. One day, I came across a strange sight in the woods. An orangutan was using a towel to protect himself from the rain. The scene looked to me like the appearance of a modern animal wandering into the collision point between civilization and the wild.