Wildfires sweeping across parts of Indonesia have come dangerously close to an animal rescue centre in Borneo, forcing staff to move animals and intensify rescue efforts.
International Animal Rescue said flames approached within just a few hundred metres of its conservation facility as fires continued to spread through the region.
“When the fires really got a grip, they came worryingly close to our rescue centre — literally within a few hundred metres,” said the charity’s chief executive, Gavin Bruce.
He praised staff on the ground for working quickly to protect the animals.
“The team there has just done the most remarkable effort,” he said.
Wildfires have been burning across Indonesia for weeks, creating heavy smoke that has drifted into neighbouring countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
A mother and baby orangutan resting in the forest.
International Animal Rescue said 46 critically endangered orangutans have already been moved to safety.
Dr. Kamale Sanchez, who works with the charity in Indonesia, said rescue teams have been sleeping deep in the forest as they continue searching for animals affected by the fires.
She said conditions have become increasingly difficult as the blazes spread.
“We are experiencing a very hot season,” Sanchez said, adding that temperatures in some areas have been around five to six degrees above normal for this time of year.
This year’s wildfire season has been described as one of Indonesia’s most severe in recent years.
Many of the fires are linked to slash-and-burn land clearing, a practice used to remove vegetation quickly and cheaply. Prolonged dry conditions have also made the fires harder to control.
Scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the likelihood and intensity of extreme heat and drought, creating conditions that can make wildfires more destructive.
For rescue teams in Borneo, the immediate priority remains protecting animals and keeping the flames away from the centre.
With orangutans already under pressure from habitat loss and other threats, the fires have added another major challenge for conservationists working to protect the species.