Eight orangutans have been released into a reserve in western Borneo after their habitats were threatened by wildfires this summer. The group, consisting of three mothers, their three daughters, and two adult males, was freed on Friday, according to International Animal Rescue Indonesia (Yiari) and the forestry ministry.
Indonesian authorities rescued a total of 46 orangutans from fires in August and September. While wildfires are typical during the country's dry season, this year's blazes were more intense due to the El Niño ocean warming phenomenon.
Among those released were Mama Nopi and her offspring Nopi, Naufal, and Nopan, who had been living in a coconut and rubber plantation before their rescue in early September. Mama Lifa and her child Lifa were found surrounded by oil palm plantations, while Mama Man and her baby, Man, were evacuated in early September after fires restricted their roaming area.
The reserve was chosen for the release due to the availability of food and water, and its connection to other forested areas. Yiari stated that the main reason for relocating the orangutans was that their original habitats had been burned and fragmented to the point where they could no longer sustain the primates.