Indonesian wildfires threaten leading orangutan research site in Borneo
Wildfires in Indonesia are threatening the Cabang Panti research station, a critical site for studying critically endangered Bornean orangutans. The fires, exacerbated by an intense El Niño, have forced researchers to work urgently to protect the habitat.
Why it matters
The loss of this research site would be a significant blow to biological anthropology and conservation efforts for a species already on the brink of extinction.
An orangutan named Sampurna receives emergency treatment in the village of Kuala Satong after being rescued from wildfires in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province. An orangutan named Sampurna receives emergency treatment in the village of Kuala Satong after being rescued from wildfires in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province. The age of extinction Wildlife Indonesian wildfires threaten leading orangutan research site in Borneo Critically endangered Bornean orangutans flee forests as staff at Cabang Panti work round the clock to stave off blaze
About this content Gloria Dickie Tue 15 Sep 2026 11.57 EDT Last modified on Tue 15 Sep 2026 11.59 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Wildfires in Indonesia are sweeping through a critical research site for Bornean orangutans and are now threatening a celebrated research camp, home to one of the world’s longest-running studies of wild apes.
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