Wildfires on Borneo threaten orangutans' survival
Wildfires raging across Indonesia have destroyed part of the habitat of hundreds of orangutans on Borneo, endangering the species. A weakened orangutan found lying on the ground will be taken to a rehabilitation centre.
Indonesia has stepped up efforts to control haze caused by extensive wildfires burning across six provinces on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The fires have already wiped out part of the habitat used by hundreds of orangutans, putting the species' survival at risk.
In the Ketapang area of West Kalimantan, a weakened orangutan was discovered lying on the ground. Karmele Llano Sanchez, CEO of the wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), described the situation as critical, noting that the fires are leaving orangutans without access to food or water.
What happens next
According to YIARI, the orangutan that was found will be transferred to a rehabilitation centre for treatment. Once it has recovered, the animal is expected to be released back into the wild.
