Indonesia Deploys Firefighting Aircraft to Save Orangutan Sanctuary

Indonesia has ordered emergency firefighting measures to protect Tanjung Puting National Park, a critical habitat for orangutans threatened by raging wildfires. A minister said President Joko Widodo personally directed that firefighting efforts at the park receive top priority, according to Antara news agency. Firefighters are battling blazes across the 415,000-hectare park in Central Kalimantan, home to one of the world's largest orangutan populations. Authorities have deployed water-bombing aircraft and additional ground crews to contain the fires, which have spread rapidly during the dry season. The park is a major tourist destination and a center for orangutan conservation and research.