started · updated
Kalimantan forest fires threaten orangutan habitats and public health
Severe forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, are causing significant ecological and public health crises. Data from Geopix indicates that between June and August 2026, fires affected approximately 60.2% of the Bornean orangutan habitat, destroying an estimated 25.8 million hectares of land.
In West Kalimantan, conservation teams from BKSDA and YIARI have rescued 24 wild animals, including 15 orangutans, between August 1 and September 10, 2026. These rescues were necessitated by fires destroying natural habitats and cutting off wildlife access to food and shelter.
In Central Kalimantan, hotspot counts rose to 2,340 on September 9, 2026, following a period of fluctuation. An emergency response status for the region is active through September 29, 2026. The smoke from these fires has led to hazardous air quality, with West Kalimantan recording 1,337 cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) as of early September.
In response, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming has instructed the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to prioritize the protection of vulnerable groups and schools. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has also increased monitoring of wildlife corridors and habitats to mitigate the impact on biodiversity.
Entities
Agustan Saining · BKSDA West Kalimantan · Bornean orangutan · Bornean orangutan · Central Kalimantan Forestry Service · Geopix · Gibran Rakabuming · Indonesia · Kalimantan · Ministry of Environment and Forestry · YIARI · Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hotspot counts in Central Kalimantan rose to 2,340 on September 9, 2026. prokalteng.jawapos.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Between August 1 and September 10, 2026, 24 wild animals, including 15 orangutans, were rescued from fires in West Kalimantan. www.antaranews.com · mediaindonesia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rescued animals in West Kalimantan included six pangolins, one proboscis monkey, one slow loris, and one civet. mediaindonesia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The emergency response status for forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan is active from August 31 to September 29, 2026. prokalteng.jawapos.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] As of September 8, 2026, 1,337 cases of acute respiratory infection (ISPA) were recorded in 14 regencies/cities in West Kalimantan. www.medcom.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry has increased monitoring of orangutan habitats and wildlife corridors in response to fire threats. en.tempo.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vice President Gibran Rakabuming instructed the BNPB to prioritize the protection of vulnerable groups and schools during forest fire emergency responses. www.medcom.id
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 60.2% of the Bornean orangutan habitat in Kalimantan was affected by fires between June and August 2026. noticiasambientales.com