A heartwarming photo of an orangutan offering its hand to a man struggling in a river has taken social media by storm. Captured by Indonesian photographer Anil Prabhakar during a safari with friends, the image beautifully showcases an unexpected act of kindness.
When Prabhakar ventured into the jungle, he hoped to spot a wild orangutan, but instead, he witnessed a moment that deeply moved him. As a nature photographer and photojournalist, he has always believed in the power of photography to evoke emotions and drive social change. “I believe every photo has its own story to tell,” Prabhakar shared with The Dodo. “My goal is to capture emotions that people can connect with.”
After learning about the challenges orangutans face due to deforestation, Prabhakar became involved with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. In 2019, he visited the organization to gain insight into their conservation efforts. “This foundation rescues orangutans from habitat destruction, poachers, and captivity,” Prabhakar explained. “They rehabilitate them, help them recover from trauma, and prepare them for release back into the wild.”
During his tour, Prabhakar observed a staff member wading into a small river. Curious, he asked why the man was venturing so close to the orangutan habitat. He was told that a venomous snake had been spotted, posing a threat to the orangutans. “Poisonous snakes are dangerous to them, so the team removes any potential threats,” he said. As the worker cleared the brush along the riverbank, he struggled to move through the thick mud, his legs becoming increasingly stuck.
Prabhakar wasn’t the only one who noticed the man’s difficulty—nearby, a female orangutan also watched intently. “Suddenly, the orangutan moved closer to the riverbank, sat down, and observed what was happening,” he recalled. “As the worker struggled, she extended her hand towards him in a clear gesture of help. It was truly remarkable.”
For about three minutes, the orangutan kept her hand outstretched, offering assistance, but the man chose to ignore it and moved away. Prabhakar was taken aback. “I had never seen anything like this before,” he said. “To me, it seemed like she was genuinely trying to help. It’s instinctive for humans to lend a hand to someone in trouble, and here was an orangutan doing the same.”
Later, when the worker returned to shore, Prabhakar asked why he didn’t accept the orangutan’s gesture. The man explained that as a “lifeguard” for the sanctuary, he must avoid direct contact with wild animals. He also pointed out that orangutans have incredibly strong arms, and an unintended slip could have caused harm to both of them.
Prabhakar held onto the powerful images for a year before deciding to share them. The irony of an orangutan showing kindness to a human—despite the destruction humans have caused to her habitat—left a lasting impact on him. He believes this moment carries an important lesson, one that he was grateful to capture and share with the world.
