Guardians of the rainforest

Photographer

Thibault Gerbaldi

Category

Editorial Photography - Travel

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2026

Country / Region:

United States

Deep in the rainforests of Borneo, Dayak warriors emerge through the mist wearing ceremonial headdresses crafted from hornbill feathers, a bird revered as a symbol of strength and the spiritual world. For centuries, the Dayak people have lived in close harmony with the forest, preserving traditions rooted in respect for nature and ancestral knowledge. Today, as deforestation continues to reshape Borneo, their cultural heritage remains inseparable from the future of the rainforest itself.