I encountered this male orangutan during my visit to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve in Sarawak, Malaysia. I was lucky enough to win its curiosity from afar and capture this shot at the peak of its stare. For over twenty years, wardens in this reserve have been training young orangutans, who were orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild before the program was transferred to the Matang Wildlife Centre. To this day, it is still home to its successful graduates, who, like the specimen in this photograph, frequently return to the reserve for a meal. Photographing this great ape was a thrilling and incredible experience. I was only able to snap a few frames before it retreated into thicker foliage, but I could not have asked for a more engaging subject or a more perfect pose.