Orangutans rescued from Indonesia’s devastating wildfires

By Dean Murray

Eighteen orangutans have been rescued and put into conservation centers amid "devastating" wildfires in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Forestry said the figures underline mounting pressure on wildlife as flames and smoke fragment habitats and drive animals into human-dominated landscapes.

They have been working through the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and in collaboration with the Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI).

The six most recent orangutans comprised two mother–infant pairs – Mama Nopi and her offspring, Nopi, and Mama Noni and her offspring, Noni – plus two juveniles named Naufal and Nopan. They were taken to the YIARI Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation Center for monitoring.

The team will continue to monitor the status of the fires and habitat conditions in the area of origin. Once environmental conditions are safe and suitable habitat is available, it will conduct further assessments to determine potential locations for the orangutans' release back into the wild.

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Many of the fires are believed to have been deliberately started to clear land for agriculture and plantations, while a strong El Niño - a natural climate pattern that causes the surface of the Pacific Ocean to become unusually warm, disrupting weather - has intensified the blazes by creating exceptionally dry conditions and drying out peatlands.

Gavin Bruce, CEO of Sussex-based International Animal Rescue (IAR), YIARI's UK partner, said: "This is a tragic and deeply distressing time for Indonesia's orangutans. These rescues, including two mothers with their infants, reveal the devastating impact of wildfires.

"When flames destroy and fragment the forest, orangutans lose not only their homes, but also access to the food, shelter and safe routes they need to survive.

"Forced into plantations and closer to communities, they face an even greater risk of injury, starvation and human-wildlife conflict.

"The thick smoke creates further risks to the health of the people and wildlife that live in and around the forests; we have already seen orangutans with severe respiratory conditions."

IAR has been working with YIARI for over 20 years, which works with authorities and local communities to locate and rescue animals in danger.

Gavin Bruce added: "The current fire emergency work is a race against time. While we are relieved these orangutans are now receiving expert care, the fact that 18 have required rescue in just one month is an alarming indication of the scale of this crisis. Protecting the remaining forest and preventing further fires is the immediate priority."