A Rare Look at the Secret Life of Orangutans | Short Film Showcase
In the vanishing lowland rainforests of Borneo, new research is underway to uncover and understand the unique cultural behaviors in wild orangutans.
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The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
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Photographer Tim Laman, researcher Cheryll Knott, and National Geographic Young Explorer Robert Suro have documented rarely-seen unique orangutan behaviors such as making pillows, fashioning umbrellas, and displaying regional greetings. With orangutan habitats disappearing at an alarming rate, the team hopes their research will help to protect this critically endangered species before it’s too late.
To learn more, visit savegporangutans.org/
Follow filmmakers Melissa Lesh and Trevor Beck Frost.
www.leshfilms.com/
www.trevorbeckfrost.com/
Follow Tim Laman:
www.timlaman.com/
A Rare Look at the Secret Life of Orangutans | Short Film Showcase
• A Rare Look at the Sec...
National Geographic
/ natgeo
About 7 million years ago there was nothing like a human on earth - there were simply great apes. What aspect of the lives of orangutans intrigued you the most?
National Geographic How the males are so large and yet they glide through the trees effortlessly. They are so strong too. I admire everything about our jungle cousin. So sad that palm oil is a "need" for people now a days.
Orangutans' ability to use TOOLS!!!
I'm not so sure that about 7 million years ago there was nothing like a human on earth. But ... nevermind ... let's just leave it to that.
National Geographic I wonder why they look so similar to Donald Trump.
I think, they share the least amount of DNA with us of all the great apes, yet I find them the most appealing, the most human-like. Might there be a biological reason for that?
One time I was at the Zoo, and I saw an Orangutan sleeping with a bed sheet. He opened his eyes and caught me staring at him. He hid his head under it, and played peek a boo like 4-5 times with me.I was a young kid, and its intelligence baffled me, for the first time in my life I felt a human connection with an animal. Not like with a pet, No. This was different. It was like we were the same, but one of us lived inside a cage.
Yeah its heartbrakng
Animals are just like us humans. They view the world and emotions the same way. Only difference is that they cant speak like us and they are dumber.
@@whiskymarko "dumber"
Lmao we're not the same 😂
Its humanity half heart
It's 3:30am and I can't stop watching animal/nature videos. Help.
Same but it's already 5:07am😅
@@Anna133199 Haha same but it's 4:07 XD
It's 8.59
Wonderfull isn't it?
4:20 am for me.
“Two apes passing in the morning dawn” is one of the best unintentional quotes I’ve heard
That's shows that humans aren't any special than any ape We need to understand it
Neither is the oronoton aka orangutan. I have never heard them called that until this.
My next face tattoo 🤣💪
@@spec_wasted W9aul
@@spec_wasted u s t f
That moment the Orangutan made that umbrella,I was awestruck!
They known for using tools. Example: use coconut shell to scope water, stick to extract the nuts from nesia tree
I literally cried dude !!!!!!
@If you can't melt sand - how do you make glass? nice try you troll
The lengths and effort these people go through to share with us about them is simply respectable and admirable. It's been really great to be able to learn about them through these observations, particularly their social behaviours. Thanks for sharing National Geographic.
I agree with you.... They're doing some great job👍
If you got paid what they did you would sit still for a few days for a few hundred thousands. It a privilege because only...
@@arickjohnson9982 If you think the average biology field researcher makes a few hundred grand a year you're severely mistaken
I would love to be the camera guy tagging along with the researchers and just filming. Would be an honor
Well said
That's why we called them as orang hutan (person of the forest) as they resemblance cautiously like a human behaviour.
Yeah it's one of the most fascinating names ever given to a species
I thought they're called orangutan's because they are orange 😔
@@Zain0_0 SAME 😭 I feel stupid now omg
You are simply a genius
@@aminap293 don’t feel stupid :) the orangutan name can have double meaning
To me the craziest part was how strange their howls are, they just sound like a human trying to imitate an orangutan That’s absolutely incredible
Finally! An animal sound I can make!
Something that continues to fascinate me is their ingenuity in their tool use.
Maybe we can teach them how to use and steal guns so they can force away threat
This is stunning, sad, and interesting. We all need to do more to protect our planet. Whoever is destroying those forests needs to stop.
Cherish Ireland why should they stop? Palm oil are the cheapest frying oil, more food products we use, the more palm oil needed.
We will keep on producing 😂 there is no stopping this ever. People would never quit deforesting. Like the Somalian people they have like 20 children. at a pace like that the world would need more resources. The only way we could stop this is by the human race going extinct which we are not far from going extinct. Sooner or later we will have every lake polluted and every forest deforested every ocean filled with oil and plastic. Thousands of animals go extinct every single day.
This is a propaganda.....Malaysia have been taking good care of orangutan...the palms are planted not in their habitat....this propaganda is to end Malaysia's as main producer of palm oil....because America is pushing their own cooking oil product
orangutans only exist in Borneo...it's clearly reserved and there is orangutan centre....Malaysia have been producing palm oil for more than half century.....it's planted anywhere else except the orangutan habitat
Extremely corrupt over there...do some research and boycott the profiteers
I'm from Indonesia and the first time I heard the word "orangutan" I thought it was human living in forests because orang in bahasa Indonesia mean human and hutan mean forest or jungle... so yea
@khairi sirat what
@khairi sirat actually the word "Bahasa" is sanskrit language, not Malay.
@khairi sirat malaysia?? Haahaa are you kiding
@khairi sirat wait what
@khairi sirat malaysia country using english language
The orangutan is one of my favorite primates. The kiss squeaking is amazing, how some use leaves, kissing them and then tossing. It’s so clearly a result of culture. Thank you for sharing this amazing footage and information.
Can we take a moment to appreciate the beautiful view of the orangutan mother with her baby attached to her while she's carrying a tree branch above her head to protect herself from the rain? so amazing.
Hows that amazing, it was raining yesterday and this mother of 2 had an umbrella over them all walking down the street. Lool
I love orangutans so much. They fill me with joy
Boycott unsustainably harvested palm oil!
Palm oil is not the cause. But deforestation is the cause. Many Palm oil farmer use their own land to grow palm oil. Only big companies do the deforestation and those companies are should be under concern.
@@neneklampir6664 deforestation is occurring in order to plant Palm Oil. Palm Oil is the cause, deforestation is the effect. Boycott anything containing Palm Oil, particularly if it's not from a sustainable source, for which there's no reliable data. So best bet is avoid it altogether.
@@geoffwhiteley6473 Then it is discrimination and that will bring more poverty in these countries. These countries have been exploitated by the west for hundreds of years, and the west did not pay even a penny for what they did in the past. Can I use the same argument to the car companies which the source of CO2? Especially Volkswagen where they were cheating in their CO2 Emission standard? Or Can I blame the west for prohibiting the developing countries to develop because they are required to respect Intelectual Property Right so they cannot grow and can only sell their natural resources?
@@neneklampir6664 why should we pay fir the fact that where underdeveloped and where easy for us to invade and capture
MISTER you don't need to pay anything for whatever happened in the past done by your ancestors. But please teach yourself and your kind to give some respect to other countries. Your ego maniac mentality is the cause of a lot of unnecessary wars on earth. Just stop it already.
This video is so calming. Those scenes of the rainforest put my mind to a state of peace.
The power of nature :)
Yes! I am keen on going.
Is anybody else obsessed with Orangutan's and Elephants? My two favorite animals on earth! Absolutely beautiful and intelligent creatures! I hope we can keep our mother earth healthy. I need to do more myself. What else can I do besides boycotting unsustainable palm oil to help these beautiful creatures?
OMG I love elephant and orangutan too they're so adorable 😭 Obviously you can donate to the organization or at least share the video so the messages will be spread 💓 sharing cute baby orangutans video works Everytime lol
donations would be good, other than that deforestation is their biggest threat but our goverment is supposed to deal with that but they are so corrupt..
Absolutely! Dolphins too.
@@stefan2serb definitely!
Go vegan!
So ya'll 'gonna just act like ya'll didn't see that Orangutan pull down a giant tree at 9:15?
The tree was rotten and dead
O. K. E. It's still a tree that was pulled down by hand.
@@thebaronanative8289 the height and leverage make a huge difference
MusicalSavior23 still a tree that was pushed down by hand
@@HamuelPter you could've pushed it down bruh
Orangutans are my favourite animal, I don’t want to see these amazing creatures go extinct 😢
Maybe we can teach them how to use and steal guns so they can force away threat
Or maybe place them in a rehabilitation centre, because they might use those guns and shoot each other and why not teach them how to steal nuclear warheads too!
And if they do it will be at our species fault. I hope we can stop this
they’re so cute, we must protect them at all costs
first and foremost, I will like to show gratitude to the organization, who withstood countless nights of waiting patiently to capture the orangutans interaction with each other and the species culture of living. Two things that stood out to me, was the mothers birth expectancy being years apart, and how the orangutans used tree leaves for shelter when it rained, which I thought was clever and so cute, got me wanting to invest in a leaf umbrella lol. Thank you.
“We stand so much to gain, and we stand so much to lose”! Thought provoking words! Well said 👌👏
Worked in a well known zoo. The Orangs were my friends. Talked to them and brought 'show and tell' things in my bag each day I was there. Forgot the % but they are just a few points off in DNA from humans. Loving and fun to the max.
Lucky!
My bad for being late to this one but that is just so awesome.
97%
Im from the UK and live in Kalimantan Borneo, Palm oil production is a serious problem for the habitat here.
Saw a documentary about the corruption there...pompous iceholes.
So sad
and im native borneo ,for each mature palm trees they need 80 liter water perday, it also a serious problem for environment and the people , im sure you agree !!!!!!!!!!!
What's the status today, one year later?
If i'm not wrong Indonesia are gonna reduce their Palm oil productions, Yes i agree It's hurt the ecosystem, Mate i don't think Indonesian is That stupid about Palm oil Problem They have and must to have a Plan to Save Kalimantan
Once i was at a zoo looking at an orangtan, when he suddenly got up, grabbed a rope in the middle of his cage, and jumped away. One arm holding the rope, one arm stretched so he took as much dry grass that laid on the ground as he could, then he proceeded to make a bed out of the dried grass and continued sleeping. Absolutely baffeling inteligence, never forgot it
We have 3 orangutans in the zoo here in erie, pennsylvania (united states). It was a Saturday and I went to the exhibit where the orangutans lived and I pulled out my camera phone to take pictures and the mother comes running up, stops and poses for the camera in multiple forms for each picture. It baffles me that a animal had that level of intelligence. Beautiful creatures in every way shape and form. It was a moment I'll hold on to for the rest of my life.
You need to understand she doesn't have an Instagram account and needs to get her image out there. She is a star!
Orangutans seem to have this unique individuality. Their eyes communicate this deep intelligence and understanding, you can see the emotion and our shared heritage in their eyes. Such beautiful animals and it’s a tragedy that they’re almost certainly going to be extinct in the wild by 2035 if we don’t do something.
For someone who has never been around these animals, it’s so hard to grasp their complexity. But it sparks intense curiosity.
Orangutans... The one originated from Borneo, a particular place of Indonesia where I am from... Such magnificent place that holds much treasure of ancient undiscovered animals...
Sumatra island and tapanuli too
Researchers: The kissing noise is a warning to humans Oragatangs: Proceed to make the noise and drop a tree Researchers: Its like humans saying hi
Caught that too
😂😂😂
Not only is palm oil not good for the orangutans' ecosystem, it's not even good for us humans. 78% of palm oil is used for food, but why? 49% of the fat in palm mesocarp oil is saturated, so it's not even good fat. But we don't even need to consume processed oils in the first place. We are great apes. We do exceptionally well with low fat. When you look at some of humanity's problems with a clear vision, it's baffling how simple it is to solve them. Just stop making yourself sick!
Absolutely true!!!
Palm oil is used in calve peanut butter a staple foid and it has been for years and yet we are the tallest people and have a good avarage lifespan
+MISTER: Wait, they make a special peanut butter for calves...? 🐮
no its a brand
+MISTER: I know, I Googled it -- I was just joking. The point of my joke was that people outside of the Netherlands would have no idea what you meant by that. I believe commercial "No Stir" peanut butter brands in the majority of the world contain palm oil, though. (I eat natural brands that contain just peanuts and salt; I'm happy to spend a few seconds stirring before consuming.) BTW, the amount of saturated fat consumed doesn't have much, if any, bearing on height. That'd be correlated with how much protein is consumed, plus genetics. Reportedly, the men of Herzegovina have the genetic potential to be about 2 inches taller on average than Dutch men, but fail to achieve that height due to poverty and lower consumption of complete protein. (And Latvian women are apparently already the tallest females in the world.)
I hope more people will become more aware of how important wildlife is.
I have decided to donate all my money when I die since I don’t have children to help these apes. They have always been my favorite animal
This video is very soothing to watch. The tranquility of nature it captures has that ASMR effect.
Omg that baby orangutan at the end tho is so adorable
Sincere appreciation and gratitude for the always amazing and educational videos. Blessings. NatGeo❤️
We're happy you enjoyed this video, David! Orangutans are fascinating creatures and it's such a treat to learn more about them.
how depressing is it that the forests, the most BIODIVERSE parts of the world, are quickly decreasing?
I was in Sumatra last year and saw some wild orangutans. It was an amazing experience, and I hope I can return again in a few years, and I truly dearly hope they are still there. They lose more and more of the rainforest every year.
3:40 - that location is stunning! It's amazing that such beautiful places in the world exist.
Seekarr Not for long!
It's an honour to live in Borneo..... I lived here 52 years now.
SOK Ganteng you are so old.
cimprodot ..... life begin at 40.... so .... I'm 12 years old..... hahaha
cimprodot Nah not even old
Beautiful country.
Asa Kacak please stop any hunters thank you
I respect all the hardwork you guys do to bring in wildlife and nature to us at the comfort of our house! The least we can do is by being aware customers who do not use products because of which these animals are losing their habitat. In the case of orangutans, we can stop using palm oils for which their forests are being cleared!
Beautiful documentary 👏🙏 Thank you for making this humbling piece❤️
3:57 That is absolutely amazing and bone-chilling at the same time. What a magnificent species.
How can you not love these apes. They bring a smile to your face.
The great apes are not "representatives of what we came from." They have been evolving for as long a time as we have since we split from our common ancestor. Great documentary!
I was thinking that too, when I heard that line! Orangs are the most derived kind of ape, with features that have been evolving away from ours (and us from them) for 15 million years or more. The only representation of where we came from is the things they have in common with us and the other apes - since, if we all have it, it's probably basal; and likely existed in all early Homininidae.
As a Malay, I am happy to hear that the narrator and the researcher actually pronounced "Orangutans" the right way. :)
As an American who prides himself on pronouncing things properly, it's astonishing to see how wrong it's pronounced here lol.
@@ReemScooterTeam lol, drop the bigotry and practice some reading comprehension... the 'here' *is* America... 😋
People from different parts of the world are going to pronounce things differently. Someone from China will pronounce orangutan differently than someone from Russia or Mexico. Get over yourself.
@@ReemScooterTeam you read their comment wrong dingus. Tragoudistros.MPH was saying that THEY have pronounced it wrong their whole life, not that the NatGeo people were pronouncing it wrong. Stop with the hate on America.
wish they lived everywhere.
Me to
too bad humans kill any animals they can get their hands on
We've got one in DC.
"We've got one in DC." No, that one is an overgrown maggot.
The North Pole?
You telling me this is the first time we caught another species making a pillow? That shows that orangutans are smarter than we actually thought
Such a beautiful land! Just marvelous almost other-worldly.
I’ve been saying their name wrong all this time
oh-rung ooh-tan
Chris Mojica no you are saying it completely correctly. If the past tense of ring is pronounced "rang," by that spelling rule , it is not ohrhongoton, it is is o RANG a TANG
Ou-rang(long vowel a, like cab) u-tan ( u like in dunes)
don't worry, most people do, or did previously.
Fyi, orang means human, utan means forest.
"I wanna be like you ooo ooo. I wanna look like you, talk like you, too ooo ooo…"
Beautiful animals. It's a wonderful opportunity that we still have them around. I hope to meet them one day, and that humanity takes the proper steps to preserve them.
Yes!
many years ago I visited the ape enclosure at blackpool zoo. Among the orang utans was a big old female, calmly munching away on a snack. At some point it seemed she got a bit tired of us all gawping at her. She took an old sack next to her which was open at both ends and pulled it over herself, so it just looked like a big sack of potatoes. We were all watching and chuckling as every so often her big hand would pop out of the sack to grab more food. At some point a little baby got curious as to what was going on with the sack. It gambled over and peered inside the sack, only for the same massive ape hand to reach out, scoop the little infant up and pull it to join Mum in the privacy of the sack. Wonderful memory.
Orangutans are like the ballerinas in nature such a grace to see one 😍❤
They always have this chillness about them like they're characters from the jungle book or they're smoking weed. Livin' on the bare necessities.
Mark Daniel | I always get a sense of... wisdom from the older, solitary males.
Maybe not ballerines , more like wise old people who seem to posses extent knowledge
Indeed.. everytime i see a ballerina i cant help but be reminded of orangutans
It is so valuable for us to learn about our roots. This is some very cool insight, thank you for sharing!
An orangutan sleeping in a nest with it's personal pillow... that's my spirit animal 😍
its just impressive how smart they are without even being able to talk
Well, they are fully able to communicate with each other, like many other animals can too. They just don't communicate like we do, you could say it's like an foreign language that no one except them can speak and understand till now.
@@MaxMustermann-nl2mk No its not. Our language is composed very differently from theirs. They communicate by sounds and actions.
We gave our sounds and actions meaning
@@updod88 Well our language isn't much different from sounds and actions lol. It's just like Abraham Gutmann said. Although animals also give their sounds and actions meaning, that's why I believe our language isn't that different to theirs, we just don't property understand it yet.
@@MaxMustermann-nl2mk It isn't. We have a code, theirs is not a language. They don't need to think nor to understand anything in order to communicate with another animal.
10:59 what did i saw orangutan making an umbrella ☔😂
Thank you for this beautiful documentary.
I freaking enjoyed every second of this and it was so educational for me and in 4 years I’m making it my promise to Borneo and study the life of an orangutan
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your knowledge with us
9:08 Exactly what I look like trying to pick up girls at the bar.
Haha
7-8 year reproductive cycle? I guess it shows they take parenting very responsibly haha
Brendan Lawrence yes they do. orangutan is the most loving and caring creature. the mothers nurse and breastfeed their young up to eight years. they continue to stay close by their mothers until age 10 or so, traveling and sleeping in the same trees and eating together.
It's really such a huge disadvantage for the species as a whole, but really endearing and sweet at the same time and totally in line with their laid back nature.
I think he meant in the sense that it’s more difficult for animals to raise their young to adulthood, the longer it tales for the young to survive independently....
@@rickevans7941 do you know a human brain isn't fully developed till around 25.
@@kittydollsxo189That's new to me. Do you have source?
Thank you so much for this documentary, it was very interesting and unfortunately very sad. ❤️🦧
Jeez,these guys are truly doing the most in order to find out how they are towards each of and humans and stuff.. staying out in the forest for 5-10 days..not easy I salute you fellas and God bless all of you and the orangutans also 🙏🙏
I don't want to live in a world without these magnificent beings. Please can we save what we have left!?
Such a beautiful creature I hope the population gets back on track these beauty's deserve to live as much as us humans. 🙏🏾👍🏾
My 7 years old Daughter Ratna loved watching the life of Orangutans in the deep forest.The affectionate Bonding between the baby Orangutan and parent make her feel good and happy. The body gesture of the adult Orangutan protecting itself from rain by collecting the twigs.Thanking National Neographic and Team of experts in filming the life Orangutans. The titled " The person of the Forest " is well conceived.
Thanks for what you do at KZhead! Appreciating your follows.
They’re so cute and they seem so chill
9:07 Haha, it's like he's dancing to music in his head.
Thank you for making and sharing these videos. Our close cousins are so beautiful and strange.
Tim Laman is one of my favorite wildlife photographer, thanks to him and those researchers who makes us more aware of our wildlife
Great video. I loved it so much, and learned a lot! Thank you 💛
April
Amazing and I think we all should share our connections with other species and try to help them Out!🙂
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FOOTAGE!!
The Orangutan video watching community is the most wholesome by far
I would love to know what they're thinking & perceiving. Imagine their world is enriched in many ways that we don't understand, hence comparatively speaking, their basic, yet serene, lives.
@8:35 he literally threw an entire tree branch at the photographer 😂
Epic little film... The shot selection was so expert, the narration thoughtful, without being preachier like.
Best documentary on this subject that I've watched!
they say about 97% but when i look at their belly compared to mine i think im at least 99% related
I want to make an Orangutan nest in a tree and take a nap
You can make one in your bed, just take a bunch of blankets and make a circle then nap in said circle:D
i can barely stay in my own bed let alone a fn tree.
Or just, install a hammock, and put leaves on it, and voila
Wow! It is amazing to see how much you guys learned about orangutans!
Seeing this video like many times, andd still exciting to watch it ❤️✌🏼
They're my Favorite I would love to teach one to fly fish and we could be fly fishing buddies!
I really want to see animals on the wild. I already see a lot of them in zoo, but i think there's a different feel when you saw them doing their things on places they should belong to. Maybe seeing them in some national park, not visiting them, just accidentally seeing them when walking around. I don't care if it's only one for a lifetime, that will be an unforgettable experience
Orangutan is one of my favorites and love animals!!! I didn't knew the meaning!!! Thank you very much!!! You are very lucky, as high persons to watch the behavior and we learn from all of you!!! Thank you very much!!! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
People like this ❤❤❤❤❤ i have so much respect and love for them. Thank you, thank you ❤❤❤❤❤. Theyre such beautiful creatures ❤❤❤and they deserve everything ❤
Me, an orangutan in the deep rainforest of borneo, screaming into the jungle to get laid: UWU
Alfin Kurnia why are you on this video 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Me, another humble ape Responds with smooching noises
Wait are you just say UWU
I love orangutans! I want to visit one of the rescue center one day if I can!
LOVE Orangutans. People of the forest. That touched me.
Excellent documentary, thanks.
Thank you all for showing this coverage of these beautiful creatures! I will pray fires stop, and people stop killing them. I hope everyone will wear masks now around all the animals of the forest.
Wow, when will we learn!! You would think more people would care!! God bless all the animals in our world 🌎 including us!!
Very well done guys! Thankyou.
Awesome, educational; thanks for sharing 😀
I don 't mind to be a orangoetan, chilling in a comfortabel nest with a great view.
All fun & games until they start burning it all down 😶😔
i was happy watching this video...................... not until the last part when you show how forest turned into palm oil plantation....................................... so heartbreaking.
Hindun K. Yes me too. Read the lables of your groceries , I put those Palmoil items right back into the shelf. Shockingly enough these days there is more palm oil in products then ever before. It used to be in lipsticks now it's in groceries!!!! Do we really need this? I do not think so. It's just another way of making money in a very destructive way. No one truly benefits from it without destroying our worlds. I can live with olive oils and vegetable oils what we have here.
All orangutans are the most coolest people on earth!if I ever get to meet one of them I would love to hug them and give them a big kiss
The hang drum song in this video is sweet