Jakarta, September 10, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has directed authorities to intensify efforts to tackle forest and land fires, with the response focusing not only on extinguishing fires but also on protecting local communities and rescuing wildlife, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said.
According to a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, Antoni said the presidential directive is being implemented through strengthened fire-management measures alongside efforts to rescue Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) affected by fires in West Kalimantan.
“Mr. Prabowo Subianto is personally a wildlife lover. Among his favorite animals are elephants and orangutans. So he also ordered me to put out the fires as quickly as possible,” the minister said.
Speaking after visiting International Animal Rescue Indonesia in West Kalimantan on Wednesday, Antoni said President Prabowo had also stressed the importance of protecting communities from the health impacts of forest fires, including ensuring the availability and use of face masks and maintaining the readiness of healthcare facilities.
He added that the Ministry of Forestry, together with its partners, is strengthening patrols and community outreach to protect wildlife, including Bornean orangutans.
Antoni urged residents who encounter orangutans outside their natural habitat or entering residential areas to immediately contact the designated call center hotline so that professional rescue teams can respond.
He emphasized that rescued orangutans should be returned to the wild as soon as possible to minimize the time they spend in captivity and help preserve their natural behavior.
“We need to release them into the wild as soon as possible in areas identified as safe. Several locations have been identified, but we must space them out so they are not all placed together, especially since the males are highly territorial,” he said.
Forest and land fires have been reported in several parts of Indonesia, including provinces across Kalimantan and Sumatra, as the country experiences an intensified dry season associated with a strong El Niño phenomenon.
