Since 1971 Birute Galdikas has lived and worked in the forests of Borneo, documenting the lives of the orangutans. This text describes her groundbreaking scientific and conservation work that has been recorded in more than a dozen television documentaries

Wild Man from Borneo offers the first comprehensive history of the human-orangutan encounter. Arguably the most humanlike of all the great apes, particularly in intelligence and behavior, the orangutan has been cherished, used, and abused ever since it was first brought to the attention of Europeans in the seventeenth century. The red ape has engaged the interest of scientists, philosophers, artists, and the public at large in a bewildering array of guises that have by no means been exclusively zoological or ecological. One reason for such a long-term engagement with a being found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is that, like its fellow great apes, the orangutan stands on that most uncomfortable dividing line between human and animal, existing, for us, on what has been called “the dangerous edge of the garden of nature.” Beginning with the scientific discovery of the red ape more than three hundred years ago, this work goes on to examine the ways in which its human attributes have been both recognized and denied in science, philosophy, travel literature, popular science, literature, theatre, museums, and film. The authors offer a provocative analysis of the origin of the name “orangutan,” trace how the ape has been recruited to arguments on topics as diverse as slavery and rape, and outline the history of attempts to save the animal from extinction. Today, while human populations increase exponentially, that of the orangutan is in dangerous decline. The remaining “wild men of Borneo” are under increasing threat from mining interests, logging, human population expansion, and the widespread destruction of forests. The authors hope that this history will, by adding to our knowledge of this fascinating being, assist in some small way in their preservation.

Horizon Guides’ Orangutans in Borneo is your one-stop guide to responsible orangutan tourism.

This guide provides the inspiration and practical information you need to begin planning a trip to see orangutans in Borneo.

We compare how to see orangutans in the wild with those in rehabilitation centres, look at the different locations in Borneo where you can see orangutans and explore conservation efforts to save the orangutan’s habitat.

In this guide:

• In-depth travel planning guide to orangutan trips in Borneo
• First-hand travel experiences from conservationists, charities and animal welfare experts
• Route maps highlighting potential itineraries
• Guidance on when to visit and what to experience

Our Orangutans in Borneo guide is designed to help travellers learn more about how to see orangutans and their behaviour. Get inspired by our first-hand experiences and get planning with our in-depth guides.

"Wild Borneo is a beautifully photographed and eloquently written celebration of Borneo's gorgeous scenery, vast wealth of plant and animal life, and fascinating local peoples. Also featured in depth are efforts to protect the island's rainforests - world hotspots of species biodiversity - and to build a long-term global approach to conserving the multitude of natural treasures found on this unique, spectacular island." -- dust jacket.

Describes the orangutan of Borneo in its natural habitat, including information on the threats that now face this incredible primate.

With this pictorial essay, Galdikas brings to life her work with these shy & endangered red apes. Taking readers to her remote rainforest headquarters, Galdikas draws on Karl Ammann's unparalleled photographs to present intimate portraits of the individual orangutans she's come to know & offers rare glimpses of their behavior in the wild.

With the arrival of European explorers in Southeast Asia around 300 years ago, the orangutan - the world's second-largest ape and one of our closest biological relatives - began a battle for survival. As the rainforest was cleared and burnt, and the orangutans were poached and sold, remnant populations have dwindled to alarmingly small numbers. This is the amazing story of how a small Australian zoo offers hope for the orangutans, through its very successful captive breeding program. The story is told through the eyes and heart of Leif Cocks, whose personal encounters with the orangutans in his care have enabled him to provide fascinating insights into their unique intelligence and individual personalities. The photographs capture some wonderful moments in the orangutan enclosures at the zoo.

Did you know that orangutans spend about 90 percent of their time in trees? This is where they eat, sleep, and raise their young.

Describes the life of the orangutan in the wild, including its physical and behavioral characteristics, its mating habits, and its habitat.