Orangutans released back into Borneo forest after devastating fires
Rescuers moved the apes after their habitats were threatened by intense wildfires over the summer.
Eight orangutans have been released back into the wild in Borneo after wildfires forced them into captivity earlier this summer. The trio of mothers and their offspring were freed in a reserve on the western side of the island by International Animal Rescue Indonesia (Yiari) and the forestry ministry. Indonesian authorities had previously rescued 46 orangutans from the fires in August and September.
Wildfires are a common occurrence in the region during the country's dry season, but this year's fires were particularly intense due to the strong El Niño ocean warming phenomenon. The apes are critically endangered, with only around 104,000 remaining in Borneo, a significant decrease from more than 230,000 a century ago. Yiari CEO Karmele Llano Sanchez explained that relocating the orangutans was necessary when their habitats became unsafe and food sources were limited.
Among the released orangutans were Mama Nopi and her three offspring, Mama Lifa and her child, and Mama Man and her baby. The reserve chosen for their release was selected because it has ample food and water resources and is connected to other forested areas, ensuring the orangutans can survive in their natural habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has warned that wildfires are burning in habitats containing 52% of Borneo's orangutan population, and if climate change continues at its current pace, a large portion of the apes' habitat will become uninhabitable.
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