Animal Rescue: Indonesian Forest Fires Threaten Wildlife
Wild fires have been raging throughout Indonesia on both Sumatran and Borneo islands for several weeks. Unfortunately, wild fires are a common occurrence in Indonesia. However, these fires have escalated to a disaster level.
Choking atmospheric haze has prompted health warnings, caused flight cancellations, airport closures, and reduced visibility that traffic movement in neighboring south east Asian countries is affected.
Many species of wildlife have been affected in the wildlife reserves. Conservation groups fear many more animal tragedies as the fires escalate. The wildlife habitats of the endangered orangutan, elephant and other animals are threatened by these big fires, which were initially started as a cheap way to clear forest land by letting wild fires burn out of control.
Not only has this led to wildlife habitats being destroyed, it has also led to wildlife displacement and animals bearing the brunt of the fires. Animals are being orphaned, injured and maimed due to their closeness to humans in plantations and nearby areas.
Indonesia's neighbors - Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand - convened an emergency meeting with Indonesian officials to urge Indonesia to ratify a treaty calling for regional cooperation to stop the burning. The only way to stop these raging fires and their impacts on wildlife is to wait for the annual rains which are expected to arrive within the next few weeks.
Stay tuned for animal rescue reports from the field.
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Photo © IFAW
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Photo © IFAW
