An orangutan reaching out as if offering a helping hand to a person by the water's edge was captured. / Photo by Anil Prabhakar Instagram capture
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] An orangutan seemingly reaching out to help a person who had entered a mud-filled river in Indonesia has been captured on camera, drawing attention.
On the 7th (local time), according to the US CNN, the photo was taken by Anil Prabhakar, an Indian primatologist and amateur photographer, who recently participated in a safari with friends on the island of Borneo, Indonesia.
In an interview with CNN, Prabhakar explained, "There was a report of a snake appearing near the area, and a caretaker arrived to remove the snake," adding, "At that moment, an orangutan appeared and extended its hand to the caretaker."
He continued, "The river water where the caretaker was standing was full of mud and flowing, making it difficult to move properly," and added, "The orangutan seemed to be saying, 'Shall I help you?'"
He further said, "It was completely unexpected," and "I just captured that moment. It was an emotionally overwhelming scene."
The photo has attracted attention from netizens, receiving over 20,000 'likes' on Prabhakar's Instagram.
Meanwhile, the orangutans inhabiting the Indonesian island of Borneo, where Prabhakar visited, are classified as 'Critically Endangered' species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
On Borneo, over the past century, the orangutan population is estimated to have decreased by more than 80% due to wildfires, habitat loss, and hunting. Venomous snakes frequently appearing in the area are also among the main predators of orangutans.
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