Eight critically endangered orangutans have been released into a protected forest in Borneo, Indonesia, weeks after wildfires destroyed much of their habitat. The conservation organization that announced the release said it marked the next step in efforts to rescue and reintroduce the primates.
According to the conservation group, the fires destroyed vast stretches of natural forest — the habitat of Borneo's orangutans — making their return to the wild an important part of the recovery process.
The release of the eight orangutans into the protected forest followed a period in which they were rescued and cared for. The individuals belong to a threatened orangutan population that is particularly vulnerable to habitat loss caused by wildfires and land-clearing activities.
A representative of the conservation organization said the protected forest was chosen to ensure suitable living conditions for the orangutans after their former habitat was devastated. The operation is part of a long-term effort to protect orangutans from the risk of population decline.
