“Endangered Bornean Orangutans Released Back to Wild After 2023 Wildfires Destroyed Habitat” — what this page in the network covers. Ten critically endangered Bornean orangutans have been released back into the wild in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, months after being rescued from devastating wildfires that tore through their forest habitat in August and September 2023. The orangutans, which include several females with infants, were evacuated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and local wildlife authorities as flames encroached on their home range. After receiving medical care and rehabilitation at a rescue center, the apes were transported deep into a protected forest area and released over several days.
The fires, exacerbated by prolonged drought and land-clearing practices, destroyed large swaths of primary rainforest, leaving many orangutans displaced, injured, or dead. Conservationists say the successful release is a rare bright spot in an otherwise dire year for the species, whose population has plummeted due to habitat loss, poaching, and climate-driven fires. For the complete material, the listing points back to the source inside the network.