Borneo wildfires threaten orangutans – rescue ops underway
A weak orangutan was found lying on the ground in Ketapang, West Kalimantan on Borneo island, after widespread wildfires scorched large parts of the rainforest. Local authorities and conservation groups say the blaze has destroyed vital habitat for hundreds of the critically endangered primates, leaving them without food or water.
Indonesia has intensified efforts to contain haze from the fires, which have spread across six provinces in Borneo and the neighbouring Sumatra island. The government has deployed firefighting units and shut down fuel‑to‑fire operations, but the spread continues.
Karmele Llano Sanchez, chief executive officer of the wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), said the situation is quite critical. He noted that the fires have left the resident orangutans trapped with no sources of food or water.
The rescued animal will be transported to a rehabilitation centre for treatment. Once recovered, YIARI plans to release the orangutan back into the wild, with the hope that it can resume a normal life within Borneo’s forest corridors.
Wildfire‑alert groups urge remote communities to report burn incidents promptly and to support containment measures. Conservation advocates call for increased funding for habitat restoration and stricter enforcement of logging bans to curb future fires.
