Eight orangutans have been released back into the wild in Borneo after being taken into captivity due to habitat threats from wildfires over the summer. The release occurred on Friday in a reserve located in the western part of the island, according to International Animal Rescue Indonesia (Yiari) and the forestry ministry. The group included three mothers, their three daughters, and two adult males.
Indonesian authorities rescued 46 orangutans from wildfires that occurred in August and September. While wildfires are common during Indonesia's dry season, this year's fires were more intense. The orangutans are classified as critically endangered, with approximately 104,000 remaining in Borneo and Sumatra, a significant decline from over 230,000 a century ago, as reported by conservation group WWF.
The severity of this year's wildfires has been attributed to the El Niño phenomenon, which alters weather patterns and increases volatility. Yiari CEO Karmele Llano Sanchez stated that relocating the orangutans to the reserve was essential as their habitats had become unsafe.
Among those released were Mama Nopi and her offspring Nopi, Naufal, and Nopan, who had been surviving in a coconut and rubber plantation before their rescue in early September. Fires had destroyed the surrounding forest, limiting their food access and bringing them closer to human settlements. Mama Lifa and her child Lifa were found in a patch of acacia trees surrounded by oil palm plantations, while Mama Man and her baby, Man, had been monitored since June, living in a plantation area near a small forest patch.
The reserve chosen for their release was selected for its availability of food and water and its connection to other forested areas. Yiari's Argitoe Ranting emphasized the importance of ensuring that rescued orangutans have a genuine chance to survive in their natural habitat.
Last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported that wildfires were affecting habitats that contain 52% of Borneo's orangutan population. The organization warned that ongoing climate change could render a significant portion of the orangutans' habitat inhospitable. This year's El Niño is noted to be the strongest on record, with expected climate impacts extending into the following year. Experts have also highlighted land-clearing practices for plantations as a contributing factor to the spread of wildfires in Indonesia, as these practices replace naturally fire-resistant forests with less dense vegetation. Yiari noted that the destruction and fragmentation of the orangutans' original habitats were key reasons for their relocation.