He was confiscated as a pet from a local Indonesian home. His mother had been murdered due to palm oil conflict. Leo was emaciated, covered in a skin infection, and refusing food/water. He was extremely skinny and barely moved when he arrived. I took this picture during my 5 week visit in Sumatra at the SOCP.

Being a former Orangutan Caregiver at the Center for Great Apes, I recently traveled to Sumatra to gain some experience in Orangutan Conservation. I had the privilege to volunteer with the keepers at the SOCP Quarantine Center. My time was spent helping the keepers clean, prepare food, make enrichment for all of the Orangutans IN Quarantine, and often I was used as an extra hand in Leo's recovery. This picture was taken while we sat together as he received IV fluids to rehydrate.

Since this picture was taken, April 2016, Leo has made a full recovery and he is thriving in his social group at the Quarantine Center. He was not in human hands for too long so Leo has kept his wild habits, like nest building. He was originally too weak to climb on his own but the staff at the SOCP has given him the physical environment he needs to heal and soon be released back into the Sumatran forest.

To enter the ENDANGERED Art & Photography Contest go to http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php…

All entry donations go directly to the Center for Great Apes.