A Lifeline for Orangutans Caught in Borneo’s Wildfires
Amid the wildfires burning through Borneo’s forests and peatlands, rescuers have brought 53 orangutans to safety. The fires have threatened the animals’ food supply and worsened air quality for wildlife and people alike, but the rescue effort is giving vulnerable orangutans a chance to recover.
Since August, the Indonesian conservation nonprofit YIARI has responded to urgent calls for help. Its team has reached stranded orangutans, rescued mothers and infants in critical condition, and moved some survivors to Gunung Palung National Park, about five hours away. YIARI has spent 18 years working to protect and rehabilitate primates.
One of the youngest survivors is Irene. Dr. Karmele Llano Sanchez, YIARI’s CEO and a wildlife veterinarian, said the baby orangutan was thin and distressed when rescuers found her. “She may have gone for days without finding any food in this devastated forest.”
Gavin Bruce, CEO of YIARI partner International Animal Rescue, praised the team’s dedication: “They have worked around the clock and… Baby Irene is just one tiny example of their hard work.”
Many rescued orangutans are still receiving veterinary care, while YIARI continues to patrol fire-affected areas. Its rescue and rehabilitation centre is full, and the organization is seeking public donations to help sustain its work.
Seasonal rains, delayed from October into November, may help put out the fires. In the meantime, Irene and the other rescued orangutans have people working tirelessly to give them a safer future.
