《CVRHK》［International news］Indonesia Expands Orangutan Rescue Effort as Borneo Fires Threaten Critical Habitat
［18 Oct 2026］
Indonesia Expands Orangutan Rescue Effort as Borneo Fires Threaten Critical Habitat
Indonesian authorities and conservation groups are intensifying efforts to rescue endangered orangutans as ongoing forest and peatland fires continue to devastate large parts of Borneo, threatening some of the world's last remaining populations of the great ape.
The latest rescue came on October 14, when a 20-year-old female orangutan named Ira was evacuated from a burned forest area in Central Kalimantan. Wildlife officials said the animal appeared to have been searching for food after fires destroyed much of its habitat. Veterinarians found no serious injuries but concluded that she was likely suffering from starvation. The rescue highlights the growing impact of Indonesia's fire crisis on wildlife. According to Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry, authorities had handled 290 wild animals affected by forest and land fires as of October 8, including 96 Bornean orangutans, making orangutans one of the species most heavily affected by the disaster.
In a separate conservation operation, Indonesian officials and the conservation organization Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) successfully relocated eight orangutans from fire-damaged areas of West Kalimantan to the protected Batu Nyambu forest. The group included three mother-and-infant pairs and two adolescent males whose habitats had been severely degraded by fires and smoke. Officials say wildlife has been increasingly pushed into plantations and human settlements as fires destroy feeding grounds and habitat corridors. Since August alone, conservation teams in West Kalimantan have rescued 46 orangutans affected by the fires.
The broader environmental impact remains severe. Indonesia reported that more than 202,000 hectares of land burned nationwide between January and July 2026, while independent estimates suggest the total burned area has expanded significantly since then. Conservationists are particularly concerned about the threat to orangutans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that fires are currently burning in habitats containing 52% of Borneo's orangutan population, including 13 of the island's 20 largest remaining orangutan populations.
The critically endangered primates already face mounting pressure from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and illegal hunting. Scientists warn that prolonged fires and recurring haze could further weaken populations by reducing food availability, damaging forests, and increasing human-wildlife conflict as displaced animals search for shelter and sustenance.
Despite the challenges, rescue teams continue to work across affected regions, combining veterinary care, rehabilitation programs, and habitat protection measures in an effort to safeguard one of Southeast Asia's most iconic species. Conservation groups say that while emergency rescues remain essential, long-term protection of forests and peatlands will be critical to ensuring the survival of Borneo's remaining orangutans.
Sources: Indonesia Ministry of Forestry
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