Indonesia forest fires destroy critical wildlife habitats

Recurring forest and land fires in Indonesia are severely threatening the survival of iconic wildlife and the stability of tropical ecosystems. Monitoring by Auriga Nusantara from January to June 2026 revealed that approximately 11,400 hectares of habitat for tigers, rhinos, Sumatran elephants, and orangutans were destroyed by fires.

Specifically, tiger habitats saw the largest impact at 3,964 hectares, followed by 3,376 hectares of orangutan habitat, 2,542 hectares of rhino habitat, and 1,561 hectares of Sumatran elephant habitat. The fires have affected 39 national parks and 140 non-national park areas, including 12,400 hectares of protected forests and 17,900 hectares within conservation areas.

Beyond direct habitat loss, thick smoke from these fires compromises the health of orangutans and forces them to migrate toward human settlements, increasing the risk of conflict. The repeated fires are narrowing and isolating the roaming territories of these primates, which are essential for maintaining the ecological functions of the forest.