Conservation workers and Indonesian officials have completed the relocation of eight orangutans in Borneo after wildfires decimated their natural habitat. The group of rescued primates includes three mother-child pairs and two adolescent males. This effort comes as Indonesia faces its most severe wildfire season in 11 years, with the islands of Borneo and Sumatra being the most heavily affected areas.

Government officials have issued warnings that the fires may persist until November. The intensity of the current wildfire season is being attributed to the El Niño weather pattern, which has created drier conditions conducive to the rapid spread of flames. While the relocation of these eight orangutans is considered a success by conservationists, the broader environmental crisis continues to threaten the biodiversity of the region. Authorities are currently managing the ongoing blazes while assessing the impact on local wildlife populations. There is no current consensus on the total number of animals displaced or killed by the fires, as the situation remains fluid and the fires continue to burn across large swaths of forest.