Sumatran and Bornean orangutans face welfare crises during peatland fires that destroy habitat and directly injure animals unable to flee burning forests.
Burns from forest fires cause severe pain and long recovery periods. Smoke causes respiratory damage. Orangutans fleeing fires into agricultural areas are attacked by farmers, electrocuted on power lines, or captured. Infants separated from mothers in fire events require years of rehabilitation. Pregnant females displaced by fires face nutritional stress affecting birth outcomes. Fire frequency from El Nino events is increasing with climate change.