Eyes in the Sky: How Drones Are Helping Us Spot Orangutans!

So far, the team has flown these smart drones over eight different forest areas. The drones pick up the heat from orangutans resting in their nests, making it easier for us to spot them without getting too close. This means we can now count and monitor orangutans in a way that’s both accurate and gentle. It doesn’t disturb the orangutans at all!

Now, it is time to take the next step. The team will be flying the drones over 20 more forest plots to detect orangutans living in the wild. We’ll fly over each one twice, across three nights, making sure we gather solid data. We’ll persevere no matter rain or shine (though the rain has made things tricky a few times!).

Thermal image of the forest at night.

The drone flights happen between 7-9 p.m. This is the perfect time, when orangutans are snuggled up in their nests. Using thermal cameras, the orangutans appear as glowing white shapes against the cooler forest background. When we spot a heat signature that looks like an orangutan, we quickly double-check by switching to normal light for just a few seconds.

A thermal image of an orangutan captured by the drone at night (left) and after switching to normal light (right).

And the best part? The drones fly high above the trees, about 100 meters up, so they don’t disturb the orangutans at all. Our early checks show that no orangutans left their nests during the survey. This means it's a safe and respectful way to keep an eye on our furry friends.

Thanks to your support, we’re able to support this cutting-edge technology to protect orangutans without stepping into their space. It’s an exciting step forward–and one that brings us closer to a future where orangutans can thrive, safe and free in the wild.

Thank you for helping us reach new heights in orangutan conservation! 🧡

Program: Orangutan Conservation in Kinabatangan
Location: Borneo, Indonesia
Program Partner: Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program (HUTAN)