In brief
Wildfires across Borneo’s West Kalimantan province are decimating forests that house thousands of orangutans, compromising their food and water sources. A lone, malnourished orangutan was found on the ground in Ketapang and will be taken to a rehabilitation centre. Indonesian authorities are intensifying efforts to curb haze and prevent further habitat loss amid climate‑driven fire seasons. Protecting these primates requires urgent habitat restoration, stricter fire‑control policies, and support for rehabilitation programmes.
Wildfires are roaring across West Kalimantan on Borneo, a region that is home to thousands of orangutans. The flames and smog are not only scorching forests but also stripping away the food and water sources vital for these primates, putting their survival at a critical risk.
A weakened orangutan was discovered lying on the ground in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. The animal’s fragile condition highlights the dire impact of the fire on the local wildlife. It will be transferred to a rehabilitation centre for treatment and, once recovered, released back into its natural habitat.
Indonesia has amplified its response to curb haze and control fires across six provinces covering Borneo and Sumatra. These efforts aim to contain the blazes that erode the orangutans’ habitat, although the fires continue to spread.
“The situation is quite critical,” said Karmele Llano Sanchez, CEO of the wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI). “The fires are leaving the orangutans without food or water.”
Recovery programs for injured or displaced orangutans are essential, but protecting their forest home is equally crucial. International cooperation, stricter fire‑management policies, and carbon‑reduction strategies will be key to averting further losses.
