Some adventures are bigger and more adventurous than others. Our Wild Focus Expeditions' Antarctic trip last November was one of these. We had MASSIVE and unusual weather systems and storms that attempted to thwart our plans at every turn, but did not manage to do so. According to the captain of our ship, the winds were literally off the Beaufort Wind Force Scale"... not once, twice, three times but FOUR executive storms in a row.
Our adventurous group weathered these storms....
Filmed and Edited by Simran Gill (extraordinaire), owner of Film Trotters, LLP of Mumbai, India. Thanks from Wild Focus Expeditions to Simran for capturing this adventure!
On THIS beach, social distancing is definitely NOT a thing!!!
Cape Cross Seal Colony, Skeleton Coast, Namibia
The hike to camp was much more grueling than Jhon and I anticipated. Two of our porters went ahead - it was amazing how they smoked the entire way and yet their legs seemed to "eat the hills" effortlessly while we trodded along slipping and sliding as we went. We didn't realize until it was too late that our headlamps and torches went ahead with these porters in our packs. Since we had spent so much time waiting for the two behind to catch up, we were starting to lose light.....
#earthcapture#nature_sultan#savetheplanet#instanature#naturelovers#ig_nature#endangered#leonardodicaprio#SOCP#SOS#adventurelover#natgeo#natgeocreative#wanderluster#earthfriendly#socp.official#orangutan#sumatra#indonesia#SOS#savetheplanet#wildlife#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#explore#conservation#palmoil##paneco_ch#yelmedan##adventuretravel#photography
The search for the Tapanuli orangutan begins here with a "supposed"' 5 hour hike to the research camp which is deeply situated in the jungle. Constant rain and muddy trails start us on our way. We began late (12:30pm) - as we had an early morning flight to the Tapanuli District, then a 1.5 hour drive to the village where we began our hike. We took 3 porters (also carrying camp supplies) and Jhon Fery from the local SOCP office. Jhon surveys and creates maps with GPS coordinates from data supplied by the research team. This is his first time to camp, and this will be his first time seeing an orangutan in the wild. We are filled with enthusiasm - and also quite a bit of nervousness. We have been told that this is a grueling hike, and that it will take a minimum of 5 - 6 hours in steep muddy terrain. We have also heard that the camp is quite basic - very basic. More to come....
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My purpose in coming to Sumatra is to document a new species of Great Ape - the 'Pongo Tapanuliensis' or Tapanuli orangutan. It will be a challenging and tough expedition to capture images of these orangutans. They are divided between 3 blocks or ranges with roughly 800 individuals in total between the 3 ranges. They are completely wild and seldom come close to the forest floor - due to occasional presence of tigers. One has to be completely lucky to photograph these orangutans. They occur in a rain forest at higher altitude and so weather and terrain are challenging for photography. I will also be photographing the threats to their existence - all man-made threats with these being the construction of a new Hydro Dam (a contract won by a Chinese company), and the building of a gold mine (the Hydro dam will provide electricity to the gold mine employees. Oil palm farms of course are a threat to the entire island of Sumatra (and Borneo). More on the threats to come.....
#socp.offical#paneco_ch#yelmedan#endangered#sumatra#indonesia#sos#orangutan#natgeo#natgeocreative#naturephotography#wildlife#wildlifephotography#earthfriendly#explore#adventuretravel#natureshots#ig_nature#instanature#nature_sultan#animallover#conservation#leonardodicaprio
This is little Ramadani. She is two years old and her mother was most likely killed by oil palm farmers as she was sold off into the pet trade. In order to be sold, this infant would have been ripped from its mother's grasp - similar to what Asha experienced in my previous post.
SOCP rescued this little girl a year ago and is rehabilitating her so that she can be released back into the wild in 4 - 5 years. Without SOCP. she would have lead a terrible and painfully short life. It has been discovered that there are captive baby orangutans that have been shockingly sold into the sex-trade in places like Bangkok to only be abused by humans seeking exotic entertainment. This not only makes me sick, but it breaks my heart every time I allow myself to think about it. Not only have these little creatures been ripped from their mothers to watch their mothers be beaten to death, but then they sentenced to a lifetime of abuse by fellow-human beings.
#socp.official#orangutan#sumatra#indonesia#endangered#conservation#wildlife#wildlifephotography#naturephotography#animallover#ig_nature#palmoil#instanature#earthcapture#savetheplanet#explore
Keeping distance from the little ones was a challenge while I was in "Forest School" with these orphan orangutan adolescents. They can be naughty like human children and are so curious - they would not stay away from me while I was trying to photograph them. The Keepers did their best to keep them away, but they are just little "rolly polly" balls of mischievous red fur! They made me laugh all day!!! #socp.official#paneco_ch#yelmedan#endangered#sumatra#socp#sos#orangutan#indonesia#natgeo#natgeocreative#naturephotography#wildlife#wildlifephotography#instanature#ig_nature#nature_sultan#natureshots#earthfriendly#naturelovers#animallovers#adventure#explore#conservation#endangeredspecies#adventuretravel
Sumatra Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) was founded in 1999 and is an amazing NGO dedicated in every aspect to conserve, protect and rehabilitate Critically Endangered Sumatra Orangutans. A new species of great ape and orangutan, the Tapanuli orangutan was announced last fall and my trip will take me deep into the jungle of Batang Toru. But here, I am visiting the SOCP Quarantine Center. Every orangutan in the QC has been confiscated from the illegal pet trade. They are brought here to be rehabilitated. This includes a health assessment to ascertain the orangutan's physical condition including chest x-rays (for Tuberculosis and other bronchial problems), blood samples to test for Hepatits A.B,C, parasites and Herpes simplex, weight measures, dental exams, and a full body check to check for presence of rifle pellets and any other body injuries. After the health check, the orangutans remain in isolation for a period of 90-days before being introduced to the other orangutans reducing risk of disease transmission. Two health checks are required during the time in isolation. After being released from isolation, they are introdued to others of a similar age. "Forest school" is a part of their daily routine! It is serious play time for these young orangutans!!!! You can see why these little animals have captured my heart entirely.....
#socpofficial#yelmedan#paneco_ch#orangutan#palmoil#conservation#wildlife#wildlifephotography#nature#animallover#sumatra#naturephotography#earthcapture#nature_sultan#savetheplanet#instanature#naturelovers#ig_nature#endangered#leonardodicaprio#SOCP#SOS#adventurelover#natgeo#natgeocreative#wanderluster#earthfriendly
