This is the harrowing moment an orangutan tries to defend its forest by grabbing at a digger.

The animal is hoping to save its trees from loggers believed to be located in the Ketapang Regency on the island of Borneo.

Footage shows the vulnerable beast walk across a fallen tree and lean towards the heavy machinery.

This is the harrowing moment an orangutan tries to defend its forest by grabbing at a digger

Footage shows the vulnerable beast walk across a fallen tree and lean towards the heavy machinery

The orangutan tries to grab on to the digger as it is lifted into the air but falls before it can latch onto the vehicle.

A man, who is a member of the Orangutan Protection Unit for the International Animal Rescue non-profit organisation, can be seen in the video creeping under the animal with a dart gun.

He successfully captures the creature and then moves it to safety. The project has an orangutan rescue and rehabilitation centre in Ketapang, West Borneo.

The seemingly distraught orangutan tries to grab on to the digger as it is lifted into the air

But it falls before it can latch onto the vehicle and is transported to safety by members of the Orangutan Protection Unit for the International Animal Rescue non-profit organisation

It is home to more than 100 rescued orangutans of all ages that are undergoing rehabilitation before being returned to the wild.

The footage was filmed in 2013.

A spokesperson for the International Animal Rescue organisation said: ‘Our team responds regularly to situations like these where an orangutan is stranded in the debris of the forest.

'This scene is different only in that the bulldozer is still present and the clearance operation is still happening.’