Bornean orangutans are critically endangered, but their numbers in Sabah, Malaysia, have stabilized over the past decade. Research at Hutan shows that some orangutan populations are adapting to Borneo’s fragmented landscapes of forests and agricultural areas.

With support from donors like the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Dolphin Energy, Hutan is working to understand this adaptability to better protect these resilient populations. However, studying orangutans in fragmented habitats is more challenging than observing them in natural forests, as these elusive apes excel at hiding.

Fortunately, new technologies like camera traps and drones are helping us meet this challenge. Hutan has recently pioneered thermal imaging drones that survey orangutans at night, detecting their body heat for real-time data on their movements and landscape use.

This innovative approach is revolutionizing orangutan conservation, enabling us to create solutions that allow both people and orangutans to coexist peacefully in Borneo’s evolving environment.