Rescue teams pull fire-stricken orangutans from burning Indonesian forests
Authorities and local groups are conducting risky rescues of orangutans suffering smoke inhalation and burns as forest fires rage in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, fire-affected areas have forced orangutans to cling to leaf-less trees, prompting emergency rescue operations. Teams are extracting animals with smoke poisoning and burn injuries, including one rescued from a high tree where the ground had been cleared. Handi Nasoka, a wildlife-conservation official, said the smoke was thick because of nearby flames. The fires are intensifying due to a strong El Niño event, slash-and-burn agriculture and dried peatlands.
Why it matters
The story highlights the impact of worsening forest fires on endangered wildlife and the urgent need for conservation action.
How this story developed
- Oct 1 Indonesia appoints Arrmanatha Nasir as new foreign minister in cabinet shake-up
- Oct 4 Arrmanatha Nasir was sworn in as foreign minister.
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