53 Orangutans Rescued From Borneo Wildfires: How YIARI Is Rewilding Survivors

Wildfires burning across Borneo’s forests and peatlands since August have wiped out the food supply for critically endangered orangutans, and rescue teams have been working around the clock to get them out. So far, 53 orangutans have been rescued, with many rewilded to forest preserves elsewhere in Indonesia, including Gunung Palung National Park about five hours away. The nonprofit YIARI, which has led rescue and conservation work for 18 years with help from International Animal Rescue, has saved mothers and infants found in critical condition.

One photo captures the heart of the mission: Dr. Karmele Llano Sanchez, YIARI’s CEO and a wildlife veterinarian, comforting a young, thin orangutan named Irene. As the team shared, Irene is just one tiny example of their hard work, and she may have gone days without finding food in the devastated forest. Many survivors are still under veterinary care, and YIARI’s rescue and rehabilitation centre is now full as teams keep patrolling fire-affected areas.

The centre is asking for public donations to keep the rescues going, and delayed seasonal rains expected in November may finally help extinguish the blazes. If you’ve ever wanted to turn a scroll into something real, this is your moment. What’s the first wildlife rescue story that ever made you stop and pay attention?