The key facts

  • 51 orangutans evacuated in West Kalimantan from August 6 to October 19; according to the forestry ministry, the number rescued in Kalimantan may reach 96
  • Air pollution from 'unhealthy' to 'very unhealthy' in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor; Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in the top 5 most polluted cities according to IQAir
  • Around 2,400 flights affected by the haze since mid-August, according to Indonesia's transport ministry

Rescuing orangutans from fires

Dozens of critically endangered orangutans have been rescued in recent weeks from forest fires that have engulfed Indonesia, conservation groups said. On Saturday, the West Kalimantan nature conservation agency and the Indonesian non-profit organization YIARI announced that a team had evacuated 51 orangutans from locations across the province between August 6 and October 19. According to data from Indonesia's forestry ministry published this week, the number rescued in recent months in Kalimantan may reach 96; officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the figure. The latest rescue took place on Saturday: three conservation agencies evacuated a 20-year-old male in the village of Hampangen in Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. 'The evacuation was carried out with great care,' the agencies said. After sedation, the medical team conducted an examination of the animal before it was transported to a rehabilitation center.

The haze and its consequences for the region

The fires have caused a month-long period of pollution, during which schools were closed, respiratory illnesses increased among people and animals, and outdoor activities were restricted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor. On Sunday, pollution levels in the region again ranged from unhealthy to very unhealthy, shrouding southern Southeast Asia in toxic haze. The Swiss air quality monitor IQAir once again placed Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in the top five most polluted major cities in the world, as fires on Borneo and Sumatra, intensified by the El Nino phenomenon, continue to release smoke. Indonesia's transport ministry reported that since mid-August the haze has affected around 2,400 flights across the country. 'The haze reduces visibility around airports, which can lead to delays, disruptions and even flight cancellations. Every operational decision is made with safety as the priority,' the ministry said.