23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
The Watchful Proboscis Monkey

Photographed in Bako National Park, this portrait captures a proboscis monkey pausing amid the lush green of its rainforest home. Known for their distinctive noses and expressive eyes, these endangered primates are often elusive, but this individual remained calmly in place-granting a rare, direct gaze into the camera. The moment offered a brief connection with one of Borneo's most iconic and vulnerable species, highlighting both its beauty and the fragile habitat it depends on.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2024
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: Kuching, Malaysia
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Copyright: © Christina Schwenck