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On Their Last Breath: The Kalimantan Wildfires and the Animals Who Pay the Price
The haze from the wildfires in Kalimantan persists, poisoning the air not only in Kalimantan but also in Malaysia and Singapore. While efforts from national and international organizations and governments remain steadfast, many people are still struggling to breathe in the toxic air, and many have lost their homes to the fires. Worst of all, the animals of Kalimantan have suffered the brunt of this calamity, with some species being driven to the brink of extinction.
While the fires could have occurred at the peak of Indonesia’s dry season and were possibly amplified by El Niño, the fires are believed to be caused by human activity, particularly illegal burning to make room for palm oil plantations, in which Indonesia is one of the world’s largest producers. By 16 September 2026, Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry had revoked the business licenses of twenty-six companies over ties to the fires, and six days later, an additional five companies had their licenses revoked as well. The latter companies were found managing more than 92,464 hectares of concession and, according to Minister Raja Juli Antoni, had their licenses revoked due to “failure to fulfill their obligations to the environment” and evidence leading to the fires. Furthermore, recent evidence found that canals have caused many water streams to dry up, worsening the fires.
Despite measures taken to reduce casualties, the damage is beyond recovery. Repairs can take billions of rupiah and can take years. With the habitat of many endemic species burned down, these animals are forced to flee to human territories, which has caused conflict between them and humans.
Recently, we spoke to Dhita Mutiara Nabella, a PhD student in Sustainable Resources at University College London (UCL) and founder of Cerita Iklim, an online platform for young activists to spread awareness of climate change since 2020. Dhita gave us her insights and perspective about the fires and the endemic animals affected.
She explained that the ecological function of the Kalimantan forests is gone, now replaced by palm oil plantations.
Many animals in Kalimantan are at risk of extinction due to these plantations. The Bornean Orangutan and the Bornean pygmy elephant are two such species, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Other species affected by the fires and plantations include the Owa (Bornean white-bearded gibbon), Kungkang (Bornean Slow Loris), Lutung Kutai (Miller’s langur), Tarsius, and Bekantan (Proboscis Monkey). While efforts to save orangutans have made progress, some animals are still displaced and severely wounded. What is especially concerning is that these animals have shown changes in behavior. Authorities reported that orangutans began coughing, and images emerged of the tarsius climbing the wires of an electric pole. Not to mention, authorities have reported that, as the habitats of these animals have been burnt down, a possible food shortage may arise within the next six to seven months. Not only has the ecological function of the forests been lost to humans, but to the animals as well.
Despite the casualties both in the environment and among those affected, a debate continues to persist in Indonesia. According to Dhita, Indonesia is torn between environmental sustainability and economic growth. She explained that both factors are currently mutually exclusive, as Indonesia’s governance heavily depends on who gains the most advantage and with what authority. Miss Dhita elaborates that, indeed, as the current situation stands, it seems that both animals and people pay the price for economic growth.
When asked what solution would be ideal for this scenario, Dhita explained that the lands should be moisturized (otherwise known as rewetting) to make them less vulnerable to the fires and the aftermath. The canals and plantation sites need to be monitored as well in order to make sure that the wildfires do not happen again. Furthermore, both the local and national governments need to be more stern in preventative measures and to provide necessary resources to the affected lands.
Dhita believed that these fires may continue until early 2027. Even with some improvements made, the haze still persists, even spreading to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Furthermore, many NGOs in Indonesia are accusing their government of “gross negligence”, calling for “comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures that would include covering the healthcare costs of residents.” Protests in Malaysia have called for further legal action to mitigate the haze and provide necessary healthcare facilities. There have been no improvements made since, and many representatives from these organizations expressed their disappointment at the lack of initiative.
However, not all hope is lost. While we push for the government to take stringent action to ensure that another disaster is better handled, Dhita reminded us that we still have online platforms where we can spread awareness, either through sharing resources, speaking about the situation, or donating to the right cause. Contributing any form of aid, online or offline, will start the change, however small. More than ever, both humans and animals in Kalimantan need every ounce of aid they can receive.
As Ditha said, we must be better.
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