Deadly wildfires leave Borneo wildlife scrambling for fresh water
Wildfires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, are leaving wildlife without fresh water as ponds turn brackish and forest pools dry up, driving animals into villages and toward the coast. Residents and conservation groups are responding by providing water, rescuing affected animals and treating them as smoke and fires continue to affect their habitat. Preliminary findings by […]
Fires in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, are forcing wildlife to search for fresh water as ponds turn brackish and forest pools dry up, leading animals into villages and toward the coast. Residents and conservation organizations are responding by supplying water, rescuing affected animals, and treating them amid the ongoing smoke and fires.
According to Yayasan Planet Indonesia, a non-governmental organization, at least 16 dead animals, including silvered langurs, long-tailed macaques, and endangered proboscis monkeys, were found from early August through late September during an intense fire season in coastal Kubu Raya, a district in West Kalimantan. This is a significant increase from the 13 non-fish animal deaths recorded over nearly six years of SMART patrols, which typically monitor wildlife and threats in the forest.
The majority of these deaths were attributed to natural causes or were unexplained. As freshwater pools evaporate and village ponds become brackish, dehydrated wildlife is moving closer to homes and the coast in search of water. Adam Miller, co-founder of Planet Indonesia, stated that such findings are unprecedented for the organization, which has been collaborating with village institutions in Kubu Raya since 2017.
Miller explained, "When the mangroves lose their fresh water, the animals die." On September 20, a patrol discovered a dead silvered langur.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
