Eight orangutans rescued from wildfires in Borneo have been released into the Batu Nyambu Protected Forest in West Kalimantan. Indonesian authorities and the YIARI wildlife rehabilitation foundation relocated three mother-infant pairs and two adolescent males on Friday, after rescuing 46 orangutans between August and September. The fires, intensified this year by the El Niño weather phenomenon and land-clearing practices, destroyed habitats and limited access to food, prompting the rescues. The 23,000-hectare reserve was chosen for its food and water availability and connectivity to other forested areas, with officials emphasizing the need for long-term habitat protection alongside rescue efforts. Around 104,000 orangutans remain in Borneo and Sumatra, a significant decline from over 230,000 a century ago, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has warned that fires are burning in habitats containing 52% of Borneo’s orangutan population. This year’s El Niño is the strongest on record and is expected to continue impacting the climate next year. While Indonesia regularly experiences dry-season wildfires, this year’s were more intense, contributing to haze and respiratory illnesses in the region.
Yiari CEO Karmele Llano Sanchez stated relocating the orangutans was a “necessary step” when their habitats became unsafe. Argitoe Ranting of YIARI added, “We want to ensure that rescued orangutans are not simply moved from one place to another, but actually have a chance to survive in their natural habitat.” Among those released were Mama Nopi and her offspring, who were rescued from a coconut and rubber plantation, and Mama Lifa and her child, found surrounded by oil palm plantations. Mama Man and her baby had been monitored since June after being found near a small patch of forest, with fires further restricting their roaming area.
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