As fires spread in Indonesia, Bornean orangutans run out of forest to flee

Fires driven by a strong El Niño are spreading through Gunung Palung National Park and the adjacent Mendawak Biodiversity Corridor in Indonesian Borneo, habitat for an estimated 2,500 critically endangered Bornean orangutans. Spatial analysis found hotspots appearing from Aug. 27 that overlap with the park's strictly protected core zone, though Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry says it is still verifying exact fire locations against zoning maps.

The ministry has confirmed roughly 9,055 hectares affected. Fires have come within about 200 meters of the Rangkong research station and are roughly four miles from Cabang Panti, part of one of the world's longest-running wild orangutan studies; researchers say five long-studied orangutans were observed fleeing flames just meters away.

More than 40 staff and volunteers have built firebreaks and improvised sprinkler systems to protect the stations, and scientists estimated fires could reach Cabang Panti in about 20 days without further intervention. Conservationists warn that even rescued orangutans have nowhere to be released if the surrounding forest is also burning.

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