Wildfires have consumed hundreds of hectares in one of Indonesia’s oldest national parks, endangering the nation’s largest wild orangutan sanctuary and critical populations of proboscis monkeys. The blazes have intensified concerns over the impact on biodiversity and the preservation of some of the country’s most significant natural heritage sites.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported to President Prabowo Subianto that approximately 514 hectares of Tanjung Puting National Park, located in Central Kalimantan, were affected by fire earlier this week. Efforts to contain the fires have been hindered by adverse weather conditions and limited visibility, which prevented firefighting helicopters from operating effectively in the area.

Volunteers engaged in firefighting activities, many of whom also manage businesses within the park, have stated that the affected area exceeds 5,400 hectares. These groups have appealed for a more substantial and coordinated government response, citing insufficient resources and overwhelming conditions on the ground. In a social media statement, volunteer Mancos emphasized the urgency for robust action, calling for increased water bombing, funding, and logistical support rather than mere promises.

The Forestry Ministry has responded by deploying 117 personnel to affected zones and providing aerial support in late September and early October. Ministry spokesman Ristianto Pribadi noted that Indonesia’s monitoring system identified 244 fire hotspots nationwide, with 65 located in Central Kalimantan—several suspected within Tanjung Puting boundaries. He acknowledged a significant reduction in hotspot frequency, indicating a 77.5 percent nationwide decrease and a 71.4 percent drop in Central Kalimantan.

Tanjung Puting National Park, designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, spans over 400,000 hectares of swamp and tropical forest, serving as a vital refuge for orangutans and other wildlife. However, the region’s peatlands have grown increasingly vulnerable due to an extended drought linked to El Niño weather patterns. These conditions have transformed the peat into highly flammable material, capable of sustaining underground fires that are exceptionally challenging to extinguish.

Regarding wildlife impact, Ristianto reported that in recent months, authorities have managed 71 orangutans and 76 proboscis monkeys across broader Central Kalimantan, including cases of deceased animals. Protective measures include increased patrolling, public reporting systems, and the rescue and relocation of animals deemed at risk. Firefighting efforts are coordinated with wildlife protection strategies to mitigate further habitat destruction.

The fires in Tanjung Puting are part of a wider pattern of wildfires affecting several Indonesian conservation sites. Way Kambas National Park in southern Sumatra has suffered repeated fires that threaten endangered species such as Sumatran elephants, rhinos, and tigers. Similarly, fires in South Sulawesi’s Bantimurung-Buluarsang National Park jeopardize ancient Maros-Pangkep cave paintings, some estimated to be more than 51,000 years old.

The ongoing wildfires highlight the vulnerability of Indonesia’s rich ecological and cultural landscapes in the face of climate variability and underscore the need for enhanced fire management and conservation efforts.