Orangutans evacuated as Indonesia battles wildfires
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Conservation groups in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, and the non-profit YIARI rescued 51 orangutans between August 6 and October 19 as wildfires spread through the region.
The fires have caused widespread pollution across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor, leading to school closures and increased respiratory illnesses in both people and animals.
Air quality in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur recently ranked among the worst in the world, as fires on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra worsened due to the El Nino weather pattern. Indonesia’s forestry ministry estimates that up to 96 orangutans may have been rescued in Kalimantan over recent months, though officials have not yet confirmed this number.
On October 18, conservation agencies rescued a 20-year-old male orangutan in Central Kalimantan, providing medical care before moving him to a rehabilitation centre. The fires have also disrupted air travel, with around 2,400 flights affected by the haze since mid-August as the transport ministry prioritises safety.
