A young orangutan gazes contemplatively through a wire mesh fence, embodying the deep wisdom reflected in the eyes of the orangutan. Its hand rests thoughtfully on its chin, while behind it, blurred greenery provides a serene natural backdrop.
Three orangutans, stars of the
In a stunning close-up, an orangutan with reddish-brown fur gazes into the camera, leafy greens still held in its mouth. The blurred green backdrop hints at its natural habitat, akin to scenes from a mesmerizing wildlife documentary like

Eyes of the Orangutan

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·Completed

Exposing the cruelty behind Wildlife Tourism, Aaron Gekoski reveals how orangutans and other animals suffer for profit, while some heroes fight for their freedom.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

Every year, millions of people travel the world to get their fix of the cute, the cuddly, and the charismatic. We take our families to zoos, ride on the back of elephants, visit dolphin shows at aquariums, and watch animals perform tricks at circuses.

Wildlife Tourism is a global, multi-billion dollar industry. But these profits don’t come without costs. In front of our eyes, and behind closed doors, lie stories of abuse and cruelty.

Aaron Gekoski is an internationally acclaimed photojournalist who has spent more than a decade documenting human-animal conflict. Over recent years he’s turned his lens on the Wildlife Tourism industry; a mission that’s taken him to dozens of countries.
But it was a trip to Vietnam that changed everything. At an amusement park in Ho Chi Minh, he spent time with a large male orangutan. Kept in a 4x5m enclosure, the orangutan had little more than two boulders for stimulation, no trees to climb, no place to escape the glare of visitors.

Orangutans are star attractions at Wildlife Tourism attractions. Sharing 97% of our DNA, they are sentient and intelligent animals. When kept in captivity, at places that cannot cater to their complex physical and emotional needs, they often suffer from stress and depression.

The scene stayed with Gekoski: If we can do this to one of our closest living relatives, what hope is there for any other animal?

After Vietnam, Gekoski brings is his colleagues and friends – director Chris Scarffe, cinematographer Will Foster-Grundy and editor Damian Antochewicz – and a four-year investigation into the orangutan tourism industry begins.

In Thailand, they see orangutans forced into grotesque boxing shows, and others kept in dirty cages at the top of a shopping mall. And in Indonesia, they document orangutans on display at lavish breakfast buffets, and crowded by groups of tourists at National Parks.

Shocking revelations from poachers reveal how the orangutans ended up at these attractions. Stolen from their natural habitats – their mothers killed in the process – they are then smuggled across international borders. Once at their final destination, they are then trained to perform using cruel techniques or locked in cages for the rest of their lives.

On their journey, the team witnesses untold pain and suffering. Thankfully, there are groups working to mitigate this crisis. At Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, they meet local heroes who rescue and rehabilitate rescued orangutans, ready for release back into the wild. This is a story of hope, set within the dark heart of the Wildlife Tourism industry.

Team

Presented by Aaron Gekoski
Directed by Chris Scarffe and Will Foster-Grundy
Edited by Damian Antochewicz
Executive producers Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer

Team

Presented by Aaron Gekoski
Directed by Chris Scarffe and Will Foster-Grundy
Edited by Damian Antochewicz
Executive producers Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A Terra Mater Factual Studios / Chris Scarffe Film and Photography production

Awards & Recognitions

Lappeenranta, Finland Joutseno Art Summer International Film Festival Best Short Documentary 2023
Los Angeles, USA US International Awards Gold Award (Category: Travel & Tourism) 2023
Deauville, France Deauville Green Awards Winner (Category: Eco-tourism and Responsible Travel) 2022
Gödöllö, Hungary International Nature Film Festival Gödöllö Winner 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Media Awards Silver World Medal (Category: Documentary: Environment & Ecology) 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Media Awards Silver World Medal (Category: Documentary: Travel & Tourism) 2022
Hong Kong EARTH.ORG: The 21 Best Environmental Films of 2022 3rd Place 2022
Cannes, France Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards Finalist 2022
Bristol, United Kingdom) Wildscreen Festival Nomination (Category: On-Screen Talent) 2022
Jackson Hole, USA Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalist (Category: Conservation - Long Form) 2022
Namur, Belgium FINN - Festival International Nature Namur Official Selection 2022
Lihula, Estonia MAFF - Matsalu Nature Film Festival Official Selection 2022
Rotterdam, Netherlands WFFR - Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam Nomination (Category: Awareness Award) 2022
Eckernförde, Germany Green Screen - Internationales Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde Nomination (Category: Green Report) 2022
Eckernförde, Germany Green Screen - Internationales Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde Nomination (Category: Award of the Juvenile Jury) 2022
WCSFP - World Congress of Science & Factual Producers Buzzies Awards Nomination (Category: Green Impact of the Year) 2021
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