Borneo

Borneo, the third largest island on Earth, may seem like a paradise but its harsh landscape proves a struggle to survive. These challenges allow the island to host a greater diversity of life than almost any other island.

On Borneo’s coast, the Bajau Laut spend much of their day hunting underwater. A tradition carried on from generations past, their bodies have adapted to these long days of diving. Their spleens are 50% larger than average, thought to provide their blood with more oxygen, and they can hold their breath underwater for over three minutes – longer than almost any other human.

Traditional fishermen Rajamil Wali and his son Pidel walk along Borneo’s shores collecting the trash that washes up from the ocean. Melting down the plastic they find, their handmade fishing lures are shaped like blue crabs. The key is to create a convincing crab both in appearance and movement to attract fish and octopus that will help feed their family.

Twentinolosa spends almost every day with the orangutans that dwell in the canopies of Borneo’s rainforests. After following orangutan mother Indah for 14 years, he and his fellow researchers have made a remarkable discovery, learning that orangutans self-medicate with a medicinal paste made of leaves that they spread across aching joints.