Dame Judi Dench has adopted three orangutans after embarking on a crusade to help save the rainforests of Borneo and its endangered species.
The 84-year-old actress made the revelation following her appearance in the new ITV documentary series Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure.
In the show, which first airs on July 2, she explores one of the few untouched rainforests remaining in South East Asia, in Malaysian Borneo, which has some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet.
During her visit, she interacts with orangutans, as well as sun bears, elephants, crocodiles and hornbills.
Dame Judi Dench has adopted three orangutans after embarking on a crusade to help save the rainforests of Borneo and its endangered species. (She is pictured with an ape at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre on the island)
The 84-year-old actress revealed she adopted the apes following her appearance in the new ITV documentary series Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure. Orangutans are slowly disappearing from rainforests and edging closer to extinction. The great apes are currently only found in Borneo and Sumatra and are classified as ‘critically endangered’
In the show, which first airs on July 2, Dame Judi explores one of the few untouched rainforests remaining in South East Asia, in Malaysian Borneo, which has some of the most diverse wildlife on the planet. (Pictured, a wild orangutan high up in the forest canopy)
Borneo, the world’s third largest island, contains incredibly tall tropical trees, as high as 300ft – and the series sees Dame Judi climb one of them. Orangutans spend most of their lives in the trees
She announced the ape adoption while conducting a Q&A after a premiere of the documentary on Thursday
Dame Judi discussed an encounter with one of them at an orphanage – describing how the ‘tiny little orangutan’ acted in a playful manner ‘like a child’ would, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
On her journey in the two-part series – during which she was accompanied by the man she likes to refer to as her ‘chap’, conservationist David Mills – she encounters wild and orphaned orangutans, which share 97 per cent of their DNA with humans.
She also gets to observe a Kubong – a gliding mammal which can fly for over 100 metres – along with more than a million bats, a dung beetle called Bob and a snake she names James Bond – no doubt a reference to her turn as M in various 007 films, including Skyfall.
At one point, she says: ‘Here we are on a Wednesday morning up this incredible river. We’ve just found a crocodile. No Wednesday will ever be the same.
‘It’s not often that this happens, that you walk along a corridor and a small, three-year old orangutan walks around the corner towards you. Such a great sight,’ bustle.com reported.
During her visit, Dame Judi also interacts with sun bears (above, one sleeping in the canopy), elephants, crocodiles and hornbills
Above, Dame Judi sees her first wild orangutan. Most scientific data indicate that the survival of orangutan species continues to be seriously threatened by deforestation and killing. Between 1999 and 2015, Borneo lost more than 100,000 orangutans, according to a Current Biology study in 2018
Among the creatures that the veteran actress encounters on her journey are a Harlequin tree frog (left) and a hornbill
Borneo, the world’s third largest island, contains incredibly tall tropical trees, as high as 300ft (90m) – and the series sees Dame Judi climb one of them.
Orangutans are slowly disappearing from rainforests and edging closer to extinction.
The great apes are currently only found in Borneo and Sumatra and are classified as ‘critically endangered’.
Most scientific data indicate that the survival of orangutan species continues to be seriously threatened by deforestation and killing.
Between 1999 and 2015, Borneo lost more than 100,000 orangutans, according to a Current Biology study in 2018.
Young orangutans up to the age of seven are sought after for the illegal pet trade.
And peat swamp forests that are home to high densities of orangutans are often targeted for palm oil plantations.
Those who ‘adopt’ endangered animals often receive a fact sheet, photos, a certificate and cuddly toy – while their financial contribution supports the vital work carried out to conserve endangered wildlife and habitats.
Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure starts Tuesday, July 2 at 9pm on ITV.
Dame Judi embarked on her rainforest crusade with the man she likes to refer to as her ‘chap’ – conservationist David Mills (pictured together)
Peat swamp forests that are home to high densities of orangutans are often targeted for palm oil plantations. (Above, the Borneo rainforest)