Singkil peat swamp: The embattled orangutan capital of the world
Deep within Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem, one of the most important peat swamp forests left on Earth is being cleared, drained, and burned. The Singkil peat swamp is the largest of three remaining coastal peat swamp forests on Sumatra’s west coast, alongside Kluet and Tripa. Together, these extraordinary peatlands form what’s been called “the orangutan capital […]
In Indonesia's Leuser Ecosystem, a dwindling peat swamp forest known as Singkil is under threat. This swamp is the largest of the three remaining coastal peat swamp forests on Sumatra's west coast, along with Kluet and Tripa. Collectively, they have been dubbed "the orangutan capital of the world," home to some of the highest concentrations of Sumatran orangutans ever documented.
However, Singkil's fate is dire. A legally protected wildlife reserve, it is the cornerstone of crucial orangutan habitat. Yet, forest is being cleared, oil palm plantations are expanding, and peat is being drained, all in defiance of Indonesian law. Satellite imagery reveals extensive illegal deforestation and plantation growth within the reserve's boundaries.
With Indonesia's fire season now in full swing, illegal clearing activities have commenced in the Singkil peat swamp, further endangering this fragile ecosystem. As peatlands, once drained, become exceedingly flammable, a smoldering fire can persist deep underground for weeks or even months, continuing to burn beneath the surface.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
