Wildfires currently burning in Indonesia have reached within 200 meters of the Rangkong research station, a satellite facility of the Cabang Panti research station located in Gunung Palung National Park. This area is significant for the scientific community, as it hosts one of the world’s longest-running studies of wild apes. The fires are encroaching on a habitat that supports a large population of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).

Experts estimate that more than 2,500 orangutans inhabit the national park, with hundreds living in the immediate vicinity of the threatened research stations. The proximity of the flames to the Rangkong station has raised concerns regarding the safety of the research infrastructure and the long-term impact on the local orangutan population. While the fires continue to spread, the situation remains fluid, with the research camp serving as a focal point for conservation efforts in the region. The Bornean orangutan is one of three recognized orangutan species, and the loss of habitat within this protected park could have significant consequences for ongoing research and species preservation efforts.