These gentle giants, with their wise eyes and deliberate movements, are the old ones of the forest, carrying with them the stories of ages past. But the world has not been kind to them. They have been orphaned by the greed that strips the land bare, injured by the carelessness that sees them as collateral in the rush for progress.

The work at Sepilok is not just about healing bodies but mending spirits—both of the orangutans and the people who walk alongside them. It’s about restoring the ancient bonds between creature and land, weaving them back into the fabric of a world that so often forgets its own origins. The caretakers here don’t just provide food and shelter; they offer a path back to the wild, a chance for these beings to reclaim their rightful place in the forest, where their very existence breathes life into the ecosystem.

But this work isn’t done in isolation. Sepilok is a story woven with many hands, from the Orangutan Appeal UK, which has supported the centre’s mission since 2001, to the local communities that understand the true value of these creatures not just as a species to be preserved but as kin to be honored. Together, they ensure that Sepilok continues its sacred work, rescuing, rehabilitating, and conserving these magnificent beings, safeguarding not just their future but the future of the forest itself.

When we arrived in Borneo, it wasn’t with the intention of stepping into this story, but stories have a way of finding you when you’re open to them. My sister and I were on another assignment, but the whispers of the jungle led us here, to this place of healing. At the homestay, we heard tales of the sanctuary from our hosts, and with their two kids in tow, we ventured into the heart of the forest, cameras in hand.

We handed the kids cameras, teaching them to see through a different lens, not just of glass and metal but of understanding and respect. With the help of the 200mm, we got close enough to see not just the creatures but their spirit—the essence that the forest, in its infinite wisdom, has entrusted to them. The children’s eyes lit up as they captured the moments, the connection between human and orangutan—a bond not broken, just in need of remembering.

Sepilok isn’t just a sanctuary; it’s a living, breathing entity—a reminder that to care for the land, we must care for all who dwell within it. The work here is a beacon, showing us the way back to our true nature, where every life is sacred, and every action echoes through the ages.