#SHOWBIZ: Leonardo DiCaprio raises alarm over Indonesia's forest fires

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed global concern over the Indonesian forest fires that have devastated over 800,000 hectares, threatening critical orangutan habitats. Speaking through his official Instagram account, the Academy Award winner emphasized the extensive environmental damage across the islands of Kalimantan and Sumatra.

DiCaprio highlighted that the blaze has destroyed approximately 800,000 hectares of primary rainforest, raising alarms about the survival of endangered species. The crisis is particularly concerning for peatlands, which are essential carbon sinks. When ignited, they become vast sources of greenhouse gas emissions. DiCaprio noted that Borneo orangutans are being forced to flee their homes as their forest habitats are reduced to charcoal, causing similar devastation for the Bornean white-bearded gibbon, another endangered primate species.

While rescue efforts are underway, DiCaprio shared a successful intervention in Central Kalimantan, where a distressed orangutan was rescued and placed under veterinary care by the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation. Their teams are actively patrolling high-risk zones to prevent human-wildlife conflicts that have emerged due to the fires encroaching on vital habitats.