Wildfires Prompt Dozens of Orangutan Rescues in Indonesia

Wildfires on Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands have driven critically endangered orangutans from their habitats and sent toxic haze across Southeast Asia, contributing to respiratory illness, school closures and disruptions to about 2,400 flights. Conservation teams in West and Central Kalimantan reported rescuing 51 orangutans, while forestry ministry figures suggested as many as 96 may have been rescued across Kalimantan; residents in Borneo have also sued the Indonesian government, alleging negligence in its response to the fires. Separately, eight orangutans rescued from fire-affected areas in West Kalimantan were released into Batu Nyambu Protected Forest after health checks and treatment.