EARTH DAY 2024: PLANET VS PLASTICS
Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day to honour the planet that is home to us all.
British photographers, filmmakers, and environmental activists, Jack Harries and Alice Aedy, have teamed up with the BOS Foundation to release «The People of the Forest», a powerful short film highlighting the BOS Foundation’s conservation work in Indonesia.
The short, 5-minute film «The People of the Forest» takes viewers to the heart of the BOS Foundation’s work, introducing them to the orangutans and to the heroes and heroines who are dedicating their lives to ensure the survival of this remarkable species.
The BOS Foundation provided the London-based filmmakers access to its project sites in Central and East Kalimantan, including the orangutan release site in the Kehje Sewen Forest. The film crew followed the transfer of female orangutan Desi to a pre-release island and joined the post-release monitoring (PRM) teams as they trekked deep into the jungle. The film is narrated by Vivi Dwi Santi, a veterinarian at the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
The film aims to inspire the world’s younger generation to learn more about orangutans and the BOS Foundation’s mission to release the orangutans in its care in safe, wild forests.
WATCH THE PEOPLE OF THE FOREST, HERE:
JACK HARRIES: «Our aim was to make a film that spotlighted the men and woman working on the front-lines to protect the planet we live on, and the biodiversity that depends on it. I've always found it strange that we don't hold conservationists in higher regard as to me they are the real heroes. In this time of increased awareness around the climate and ecological crisis, we hope this film shines a light on the tireless and crucial work BOSF do to protect a this magnificent and critically endangered animal.»
DR. IR. JAMARTIN SIHITE shared his thoughts, «We are delighted that Jack Harries and Alice Aedy can bring our work with the Critically Endangered Bornean orangutan to a younger audience across the globe that is motivated to take action in the fight against climate change. To ensure a stable climate for the future, we must keep orangutans safe and protect the forests they live in.»
ABOUT JACK HARRIES
Jack Harries is a 27-year-old documentary filmmaker, photographer, and activist. In 2011, he created JacksGap, a successful YouTube channel and blog that has over 4 million subscribers. Through the success of his blog, Jack has focused on raising awareness on current issues around climate change, forced migration, and mental health. Over the last few years, he has covered environmental stories in Greenland, Somaliland, Bhutan, and Kiribati.
ABOUT ALICE AEDY
Alice Aedy is a 26-year-old documentary filmmaker, photographer, and activist, whose work focuses on forced migration, environmental issues, and women’s issues. Alice’s work has been published in The Times, Vice, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Monocle, BBC and more, whilst her work has also been exhibited in London, including at Somerset House.
Jack Harries and Alice Aedy are also founders of Earthrise Studio, a media platform mobilising younger generations in the fight against climate change.
Special thanks to the entire cast and crew, both in front of and behind the camera:
POST-RELEASE MONITORING STAFF
Indar Yaumy
Siti Nur Badriyah
Yohanis Thomas
Deni Maulana
Beny Zardani
Robet Ifung
Hendrik Wijaya
Yoni Alexsandria
Iswandi
Nico Hermanu
VETERINARIANS
Vivi Dwi Santi
Patrick Flagellata
Muhtadin
Mahmudi
DAYAK DANCERS
Asraf Setiawan
Rahmat Saputra
Fera Feroza
SURROGATE MOTHER
Dessi Sidabutar
Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day to honour the planet that is home to us all.
It was a usual day at the Nyaru Menteng forest school, where young orangutans were learning from one another while their human surrogate mothers looked on from below.
Our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team at Camp Himba Pambelum in Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR), Central Kalimantan, encountered Suci, a young female orangutan, three times back in 2023.
