Race against time to save orangutans from forest fires gripping Indonesia

Many countries in Southeast Asia have been under heavy smoke for weeks due to the biggest fires in Indonesia in recent years.

While the causes of uncontrollable fires include the method of burning vegetation to open agricultural land, which has been practiced for many years, the El Niño weather phenomenon, which reduces rainfall, further aggravates the conditions.

Due to air pollution caused by these fires that have been going on for months, schools have been closed as a precaution in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor, and a large increase in respiratory diseases has been observed in both humans and animals.

Forest fires, which started in the country at the end of July and lasted for months, seriously threaten the lives and natural habitats of Borneo orangutans, which are in danger of extinction.

Authorities and volunteer associations are also racing against time to protect wildlife in the region.

While fires continue in the Borneo and Sumatra islands due to the influence of El Nino, it was announced that the West Kalimantan conservation department and the non-profit YIARI association have rescued 51 orangutans and placed them in safe areas since August 6.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, the number of orangutans rescued in the Kalimantan region in recent months may have increased to 96.

It is also stated that some orangutans affected by the fire received intensive treatment due to burns, malnutrition, severe anemia and other health problems.

While their number exceeded 230 thousand in Sumatra and Borneo a century ago, it has now fallen to 104 thousand.