It was the last stop of my Indonesian trip before reaching Malaysia (for the 3rd time at that moment). I've heard about this place when I was staying in Lombok. Located 3h from Medan, the capital city of Sumatra island, I felt the desire to end this solo travel there. Just before leaving Gili air, someone working at the hostel where I staid gave me the contact of one of his friend living in Bukit Lawang. This is how I met Kevin, my private local guide who managed all of my stay during 4 days and welcomed me as a friend.

During our day trip into the forest, I've been able to watch, few meters away, some semi- wild Sumatran orangutans and their family. With just over 14,000 Sumatran orangutans, and approximately 800 Tapanuli orangutans individuals left in the wild, both species are in critical danger of extinction. The expansion of oil palm plantations into fragile Eco-systems is the most acute threat to their survival. But illegal logging of timber and pet trade also add to their decline. Current estimates suggest that they could be the first species to become extinct in the wild!

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What I've learnt about them is that Orangutans are one of the most intelligent species and one of our closest relatives. They spend most of their lives in the tops of the trees and climb from branch to branch. They can make several kilometres per day, looking for food and making a new nest each night in a tree for sleeping, only coming together for minimal social interaction. They are mostly vegetarians but also eat insects, bird eggs, small vertebrates, termites or ants.