Wildfires intensified by a powerful El Niño are devastating forests and peatlands in Indonesia, threatening the survival of critically endangered orangutans and leaving conservationists struggling to rescue animals trapped by flames.
In West Kalimantan, rescuers recently found a mother orangutan and her eight-month-old infant dehydrated and severely weakened after fleeing fires into an oil-palm estate. The pair were among animals being rescued as fires spread through parts of Borneo.
The fires have also threatened Gunung Palung National Park, one of the most important remaining habitats for Bornean orangutans. More than 2,500 orangutans are believed to live in the park, while flames have approached within about 200 metres of a major research station.
Indonesia’s forestry ministry has identified El Niño as a major factor behind the unusually hot and dry conditions. Government data showed that about 202,000 hectares of forest and land had been affected by fires between January and July 2026.
The destruction is particularly serious because fires eliminate feeding and nesting areas, forcing orangutans into increasingly fragmented forests or plantations where they face dehydration, starvation and further human conflict.
Conservation groups say the immediate priority is to contain the fires and rescue stranded animals, while longer-term efforts must focus on protecting and restoring remaining forest corridors.
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