Big fires are burning in Indonesia right now. The weather is very dry because of El Niño. These fires are spreading fast in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. Many rare animals are in danger because they are losing their homes. People also clear land for work, which makes the fires worse. It is very hard for local authorities to stop the flames.
The fires are hurting many animals. In Borneo, the fires affect habitats where 52% of the Bornean orangutan population lives. This means more than half of these animals are in danger. The fires also hurt five different gibbon species. These gibbons are on the IUCN Red List as endangered. Also, 4,500 fires were found in 21 Sumatran elephant habitats recently. In August alone, the fires damaged 600,000 hectares of land.
Many animals are hurt by the heat. Some animals have burns on their hands. They are also very hungry and thirsty because their food and water are gone. An organization called Yiari is helping to save them. They have already moved more than 20 orangutans and some pangolins to safe places. However, the work is dangerous. One rescued orangutan died because of the thick smoke.
One mother orangutan had skin peeling from her hands. She had to walk on the burning ground. Her eight-month-old baby was very thin and thirsty. They were found in an oil palm estate. The fires are a big problem for the environment. Even when the fires stop, the animals may have no homes to return to. The long-term effects are still unknown.