health
Indonesia wildfires threaten orangutans rescued from animal traffickers
Blaze fuelled by hot, dry and windy conditions comes within metres of West Kalimantan rehabilitation centre
TL;DR
- Orangutans rescued from wildlife traffickers are under threat from record-breaking wildfires in Indonesia.
- Flames reached within 100 metres of the Yiari orangutan rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan.
- Sixty orangutans were relocated to safer enclosures within the centre.
- Hot, dry, and windy conditions, amplified by El Niño and climate change, are fuelling the fires.
- Indonesia has experienced a significant increase in forest fire hotspots compared to the previous year.
- Authorities are using water-bombing and firefighting teams to combat the blazes.
- The centre's director described the firefighting efforts as relentless and exhausting.
- The situation had stabilized by Thursday evening, but officials warn of continued hot conditions and potential new outbreaks.
- The peak of the fire season is typically in September and October.
- Yiari is seeking funds for more firefighting equipment.