Orangutans rescued from Indonesian fires

Several non-governmental organisations report that dozens of orangutans have been rescued from wildfires in Indonesia.

These fires have caused months of toxic smoke pollution, increasing respiratory problems in both people and animals. From August 6 to October 10, a joint team evacuated 51 orangutans from sites in West Kalimantan as the fires encroached on their habitat. On Saturday, three organisations rescued a 20-year-old male orangutan from Hampangen village in Central Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo.

Rescuers carefully anesthetized the orangutan and gave it a health check before transporting it to a rehabilitation centre. The fires, fueled by drought and deforestation, have also led to school closures, outdoor activity restrictions, and a high alert level across parts of Southeast Asia. Four people died fighting the fires in a national park. The orangutan, an already critically endangered species, faces increasing threats as its forest home disappears.