Letters from Conservationists: Hutan

I first locked eyes with a wild orangutan during a hot afternoon in 1994 in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) along the Kinabatangan River. It was magical, and this encounter changed everything. Dr. Isabelle Lackman and I established Hutan—a conservation program dedicated to find ways for people and wildlife to share the same home peacefully.

For over 25 years, I have lived in Sabah and I've called Kinabatangan home. Alongside our team of over 100 conservationists, all of whom originate from local communities, we witnessed dramatic changes. Forests were exploited for timber before being converted to other types of land uses, and the landscape became increasingly fragmented. Yet here's the incredible part: orangutans are remarkably resilient and can survive in highly transformed environments when given a chance.

At Hutan, we are not just protecting orangutans, we're building bridges, literally and figuratively. Working with local communities and even palm oil companies, we've created forest corridors and wildlife crossings that connect fragmented habitats.

The results speak for themselves. Twenty years ago, only 12% of Sabah was protected. Today, it's 28%, safeguarding roughly 9,000 orangutans—80% of the state's population.

You have power in this story too. Every time you choose sustainable palm oil, you're voting for coexistence. Start small—let that spider live in your bathroom corner. Embrace the wildlife around you, because learning to share our world with animals is the key to preserve all the animal species that we find around us.

From the heart of Borneo, thank you for caring.

Dr. Marc Ancrenaz