Indonesia fires: 51 orangutans rescued from danger zones

Widespread forest fires across Southeast Asia have put Indonesia and neighboring countries in the grip of a severe environmental crisis and dense haze. Illegal burning of vegetation to clear land for agriculture, combined with severe drought caused by the El Niño weather pattern, is making firefighting operations significantly more difficult.

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that classes have been suspended and schools closed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor because of toxic air pollution caused by the disaster, which has continued for months. Experts say acute respiratory illnesses are rising rapidly among people and animals.

Large-scale fires that began in late July are destroying the natural habitat of Bornean orangutans, a rare species. Indonesian government agencies and international environmental organizations are continuing rescue operations.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the non-governmental organization YIARI have rescued 51 orangutans from danger zones since August 6 and relocated them to specially protected sanctuaries.

Official figures from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry put the total number of orangutans rescued in the Kalimantan region alone in recent months at 96.

Animals affected by fire and toxic smoke have suffered serious health problems, including severe burns, acute malnutrition and anemia. The rescued primates are undergoing intensive rehabilitation under veterinary supervision.

According to environmental monitoring organizations, the orangutan population, which once exceeded 230,000 on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, has now fallen sharply to 104,000. Continuing forest fires are sharply increasing the risk of the endangered animals being wiped out entirely.