JAKARTA — Fires burning in rainforests that contain more than half of the world’s critically endangered Bornean orangutans have led experts to call for urgent action as conditions worsen across Indonesia. This warning comes during a severe fire season fueled by strong El Niño conditions, prompting conservationists to rescue wildlife trapped in the flames. The fires are occurring in forests that house 13 of the 20 largest remaining populations of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).
As of September 22, the Ministry of Forestry reported that 100 animals, including 53 Bornean orangutans, had been rescued. Some of these orangutans have suffered severe injuries while escaping the fires. In Central Kalimantan, a 4-year-old orangutan named Novita was found in a burning area near Sebangau National Park with serious burns on her hands and feet. She was later taken to a rehabilitation center for treatment.
Anton Nurcahyo, CEO of the Borneo Nature Foundation, stated that orangutans surrounded by fire with no escape route can face deadly risks. This threat is particularly high for female orangutans with young, as they tend to stay in their established home ranges, making it harder for them to escape when flames spread. In September, an adult male orangutan was found severely weakened in an oil palm plantation and died despite emergency treatment. This article was originally published on Mongabay.
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Hans Nicholas Jong