Emergency conservation teams in Indonesia have rescued dozens of Bornean orangutans following widespread forest and peatland fires across West Kalimantan province. More than 48,500 hectares (120,000 acres)—an area larger than Vienna—have burned in the province during 2026, posing severe risks to local wildlife habitats.
Between August 1 and October 21, 2026, a total of 53 Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) were saved through joint operations conducted by the West Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the NGO Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI). Ketapang district experienced the heaviest impact, with 12,443 hectares (30,747 acres) burned as of September.
The Bornean orangutan is the only orangutan species found on the island of Borneo. Alongside the other two orangutan species globally, it is classified as critically endangered. Beyond direct mortality, the flames destroy critical shelter, reduce essential food supplies, and cut off the paths that orangutans use to move between groups.
Rescue operations have included hands-on veterinary interventions, such as the September 18 treatment of a rescued mother and baby found in a burned peatland area in Pelang village, Ketapang Regency. Extinguishing these blazes remains exceptionally challenging because combustion continues underground beneath the peat surface, where unseen fires can reignite with a small gust of wind, according to YIARI Director Karmele Llano Sanchez.
As emergency teams continue monitoring vulnerable tracts of habitat, how can conservationists and regional authorities better safeguard subterranean peat environments against recurring fire seasons?
