Indonesian wildfires spread to orangutan research stations in Borneo
El Niño-driven fires have burned within meters of the Cabang Panti and Tuanan research camps as rescuers pull orangutans from burning forest.
What to know
- A Super El Niño has driven Indonesia's worst fire season in years, with estimates of area burned ranging from over 200,000 hectares (government) to nearly 900,000 hectares (Nusantara Atlas) between January and August.
- Fires believed to be deliberately set for palm oil land clearing have pushed critically endangered Bornean orangutans out of shrinking forest, with YIARI rescuing at least 15 animals so far this season.
- Two of the world's most important long-term wild-orangutan research sites, Cabang Panti and Tuanan, have had fires burn within 200-500 metres of their camps, threatening decades of scientific data.
- Local fire crews and researchers are fighting the fires with limited resources and have launched public appeals for equipment.
Dr Komara Wildlife veterinarian, YIARIDr Karmele Llano Sánchez CEO and primatologist, YIARIYIARI (Yayasan IAR Indonesia) Conservation foundationAndrea (andreaamongapes) Researcher affiliated with Tuanan Orangutan Research StationCabang Panti / Rangkong research station staff Field researchers
How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Guardian report on Cabang Panti recirculates as fires continue
The Guardian's report on the threat to Cabang Panti continues to be shared, framed by some as a symptom of broader climate breakdown affecting wildlife.
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Race to save orangutans trapped in Indonesia’s smouldering forests apnews.com/video/race-t... Lingering smoke, and fire ravaged peat swamps are now endangering orangutans who’ve managed to survive the blaze which destroyed parts of the West Kalimantan forests in Indonesia.
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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Save # orangutans from # climate breakdown https://www. theguardian.com/environment/20 26/sep/15/indonesia-wildfires-threaten-leading-orangutan-research-site-borneo-cabang-panti?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other # wildlife
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Researcher says over 34,000 fires burning nationwide
A Tuanan-affiliated researcher posts on social media that more than 34,000 fires are burning across Indonesia and appeals for wider sharing of the fundraising campaign.
“more than 34,000 fires are burning across the country. I work with Tuanan, a peat swamp forest that is now burning.”
— andreaamongapes.bsky.social -
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Hi Sara! Thank you for always keeping up with the primates! The orangutan and other Indonesian primate people need desperate help - more than 34,000 fires are burning across the country. I work with Tuanan, a peat swamp forest that is now burning. Can you share?
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Tuanan research station launches emergency fire appeal
Fires reach within 500 metres of the Tuanan Orangutan Research Station in Central Kalimantan; researchers and local fire crews from Pasir Putih village fight to protect the two-decade-old peatland study site and launch a public appeal for firefighting equipment.
“Somehow this isn't getting covered in the US, but biodiversity hotspot Indonesia is burning. Fires bigger than our California wildfires.”
— andreaamongapes.bsky.social -
Somehow this isn't getting covered in the US, but biodiversity hotspot Indonesia is burning. Fires bigger than our California wildfires. We need help buying hoses, equipment for the local people to become fire fighters because there isn't anyone else.
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Fires close in on Cabang Panti orangutan research site
The Guardian reports wildfires have burned within 200 metres of Rangkong station, a satellite of the Cabang Panti research camp in Borneo, one of the world's longest-running wild-ape studies, forcing orangutans to flee and staff to work round the clock to hold back the blaze.
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first by The Guardian, 8d ago · also Guardian Environment, Guardian
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Coverage of the rescue mission spreads online
Social media users and aggregators share the ABC report on the YIARI rescue operation, drawing attention to the link between the fires, deforestation and palm oil expansion on Borneo.
“The areas around here still have active burning. The fires could continue to expand and effectively trap the orangutans in one place, or they could perish.”
— Dr Komara, YIARI wildlife veterinarian · source -
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Inside the mission to save Borneo's orangutans from raging fires https://www. abc.net.au/news/2026-09-13/ind onesia-fires-and-smoke-haze-putting-orangutans-at-risk/107142194 # conservation # Borneo # Indonesia # orangutan # orangutans # PalmOil # wildfires # extinction
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https://www. europesays.com/us/1059943/ Inside the mission to save orangutans from raging fires # borneo # EndangeredSpecies # Fires # Indonesia # orangutans # PalmOil # Science # SmokeHaze # SouthEastAsia # UnitedStates # UnitedStates # US # Wildfires # Wildlife
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YIARI rescuers pull orangutan mother and baby from fire zone
ABC News follows a YIARI team in West Kalimantan as they dart and rescue a mother orangutan and her baby trapped in a shrinking patch of forest surrounded by burnt plantations; YIARI says it has rescued at least 15 orangutans this fire season, including a male, Sampurna, found with respiratory failure.
“The fires could continue to expand and effectively trap the orangutans in one place, or they could perish.”
— Dr Komara, YIARI veterinarian -
2 outlets Inside the mission to save critically endangered orangutans from fire - ABC News & Headlines
first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11d ago · also ABC Australia
1 more headline
- Inside the mission to save critically endangered orangutans from fire ABC Australia · 11d ago
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background
Super El Niño fuels record Indonesian fire season — A Super El Niño weather pattern drives severe drought and fire conditions across Indonesia; the government reports over 200,000 hectares burned January–July while environmental monitor Nusantara Atlas estimates almost 900,000 hectares burned January–August.