Wildfires intensified by a supercharged El Niño are devastating Indonesia's forests and peatland, threatening thousands of orangutans and other vulnerable species. Primate specialists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have called for urgent international assistance, warning that many orangutans could be killed, injured, or displaced.
The fires are affecting habitat that contains 52% of the total Bornean orangutan population. While wildfires occur annually in Indonesia, often for land clearing, the current dry conditions have caused blazes to spread rapidly across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua.
Rescuers last month saved an eight-month-old orangutan named Abu and its mother, Mama Abu, from the fires. Yiari, a non-profit, has evacuated over 20 orangutans and other species, though one rescued orangutan died, likely from smoke inhalation. Animals found often have burns, are hungry, or dehydrated.
Forestry minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the wildfires could persist until early November, with the rainy season anticipated to arrive late. An estimated 600,000 hectares were damaged by fire in August, according to environmental group YKAN.
Even orangutans that survive the immediate fires may face long-term consequences, including reduced food availability as forests struggle to recover. Research suggests that smog from fires can also lead to health impacts, with orangutans showing signs of increased fat breakdown and reduced vocal quality.