Conservationists rescue Bornean orangutans from forest fires in Indonesia
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The West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency and Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia rescued 53 Bornean orangutans from forest and land fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
These joint emergency operations took place between August 1 and October 21, 2026, as fires destroyed habitats and food sources for the primates. Veterinarian Komara and his team treat the rescued animals for burns and dehydration.
The animals often arrive at the clinic in poor physical condition due to a lack of food and physical injuries. Field operations are difficult because the fires often burn underground in peatlands, where flames are not visible but can reignite easily with wind. Suherman leads a team of 38 firefighters who use thermal drones and long hoses to manage these hotspots. The fires have burned 48,536 hectares in the province, an area roughly the size of Vienna.
Because the original habitats have been destroyed, the rehabilitation team must now find new, safe forest locations for the orangutans. The team aims to relocate the animals to areas that are free from both fire and human threats.
