The last orangutans
A German photographer chronicles the displacement of Indonesia's indigenous species


An orangutan roams freely through the trees of Bukwit Lawang, an orangutan sanctuary within the Gunung Leuser National Park, in Sumatra, Indonesia.
(Sandra Hoyn) In April 2014, German photographer Sandra Hoyn traveled to this lush Petri dish of wildlife. As she traversed the island, Hoyn noticed its renowned rainforest was being overtake

A view of a monoculture oil palm plantation.
(Sandra Hoyn)

Penghijau, a Orang Rimba (people of the forest), lives a nomadic life between tradition and modernity near a palm-oil plantation on Sumatra Island. Approximately 3,500 Orang Rimba still live as hunter-gatherers in the forests of Sumatr
(Sandra Hoyn)

A boat carries trucks loaded with acacia wood, which is popular with paper producers because acacia trees grow quickly.
(Sandra Hoyn) Palm-oil plantations have replaced nearly four-fifths of Sumatra's rainforest. As they continue to expand, Indonesia's indigenous species find themselves struggling to survive i

A felled tree lies in the remains of an area of Sumatra's rainforest that has been burned to make way for a new palm-oil plantation.
(Sandra Hoyn)

Orangutans reach out to hold the hand of a staff member at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program center.
(Sandra Hoyn)While visiting the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program's center, in Batu Mbelin, Hoyn photographed orangutans that had been rescued from withering habitats and brought to the

Angelo waits for an examination at the center.
(Sandra Hoyn) Hoyn noted, too, the dichotomy between the rather peaceful images she shot of endangered orangutans, nomads, and others, with those of Indonesia's troops. These fatigued, armed

A military firefighter douses spot fires in Riau Province, Indonesia.
(Sandra Hoyn)

A villager looks at what is left of a rainforest area, burned to make way for more palm-oil plantations.
(Sandra Hoyn)

(Sandra Hoyn)**See more of Sandra Hoyn's work on her website**