Sumatra , Indonesia ( CNN ) -- Flying over the island of Sumatra in Indonesia , I looked out the window and got my first exciting glimpse of the Sumatran rainforest . It was vast , lush and green , but it was n't all rainforest . There were squares of farmland and large patches of trees in neat rows that I knew were palm oil or pulp and paper plantations . From above , the patches of green seemed to flow in and out of the rainforest , but I knew those patches of rainforest were shrinking . I turned around and saw that the other members of our CNN crew on the plane with me -- correspondent Philippe Cousteau , tech expert John Sanders and Hong Kong based cameraman Scott Clotworthy -- were all looking out the windows , too . After all the preparation and the travel delays , we had finally made it . We knew this was going to be a trip unlike any other . Our first destination was at a very remote camp in Jambi Province near 30 Hills National Park . I knew how remote it was going to be , so it was n't a surprise when we traded our caravan of pickup trucks for three giant off-road vehicles . We knew since we were here during the rainy season , these vehicles were the only way to get up these extremely muddy mountain trails . Read more : Phillipe Cousteau on why you should care about Sumatra . I did n't know just how treacherous these trails would be until the driver of our off-road truck stopped and told us that we would have to cross the bridges on foot . If a bridge broke or the truck slid off , we did n't want to be inside . It was dark , and the CNN U.S. crew did n't have our gear because our luggage was lost in transit . I was the only one with hiking boots and Philippe was the only one with a flashlight . We eased out of the trucks into slippery , squishy mud and walked slowly toward the bridge trying to avoid deep puddles . These bridges were a test of our balance and nerve . Each bridge was two sets of heavy logs lashed together , one set of logs for the left tires and one set for the right . We looked down and estimated it to be a 6 meter drop . We slowly and carefully walked across one side , one at a time , tightrope style . Scott and John even did it carrying their cameras . Amazingly , no one slipped . Even more amazingly , the trucks all made it across with no problem . I was still very glad to see the camp lights come into view . We had finally arrived at the Frankfurt Zoological Society Orangutan camp . This group is doing some amazing work to help replenish a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan population . Their goal is to take captive Sumatran orangutans that were pets and teach them how to live in the wild so they can be released into the rainforest . Orangutans were extinct in this area of Sumatra before the FZS came here . Now , more than 140 live in this patch of rainforest . Once the generator powered down for the night , I lay in my bed and listened to the sounds of the rainforest just outside . Soon it started to rain and the sounds of the rain mixed with the sounds of the rainforest were incredible . I will never forget the sound of the Sumatran rainforest surrounding me , and the feeling of knowing the next day I would see a captive orangutan released back into the wild .
Jenni Watts produced Expedition : Sumatra , CNN 's new environment special . The team traveled round Indonesia charting some of the biggest issues affecting the country . They visited an orangutan conservation group trying to protect the endangered species .