Indonesian wildfires threaten leading orangutan research site in Borneo

Critically endangered Bornean orangutans are fleeing their forests as staff at Cabang Panti work round the clock to stave off a wildfire threatening a critical research site. The Rangkong research station, a satellite of Cabang Panti, is within 200 metres of the blaze. This site is part of one of the world's longest-running studies of wild apes. The fires are sweeping through Gunung Palung national park, where the research station is located. Staff are working to contain the fire and protect the orangutans, but the situation remains precarious. The research camp is home to a celebrated study of wild apes, and the loss of the site could have significant consequences for the understanding of these critically endangered animals. The fires are part of a larger issue of wildfires in Indonesia, which have been burning for weeks. The situation is being closely monitored by conservationists and researchers.